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Story: Historic volcanic activity

A solution to Ohakune’s flagging economy

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A solution to Ohakune’s flagging economy

Continued outpourings of ash in 1995 meant that the Mt Ruapehu skifields were closed – a disaster for Ohakune and the other towns whose economy depended on tourists. In his cartoon, Tom Scott suggested that the town’s icon, a huge fibreglass carrot, could be used to plug the vent.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: H-240-018

by Tom Scott

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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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/cartoon/6884/a-solution-to-ohakunes-flagging-economy (accessed 4 June 2026).

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