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Story: Historic volcanic activity

The effects of ash fall

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The effects of ash fall

Wairoa schoolgirls protect themselves from falling ash during one of the 1995–96 Ruapehu eruptions. Lying more than 100 kilometres east of Ruapehu, the volcanic effects were completely unexpected. Everyone in the community was affected, and many people reported health problems.

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Gisborne Herald

by Paul Rickard

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How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, Historic volcanic activity – Ruapehu since 1945, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6882/the-effects-of-ash-fall (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, published 2 March 2009.