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Story: Volcanoes

Ōruanui ash

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Ōruanui ash

Ash from the Ōruanui eruption from the Taupō volcano, about 26,500 years ago, covered a huge area. By taking many measurements it was possible to work out the patterns of ash thickness (in centimetres) over the whole region.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: C. J. N. Wilson, ‘The 26.5 ka Oruanui eruption, New Zealand: an introduction and overview.’ Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 112 (2001)

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How to cite this page

Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, Volcanoes – The Taupō volcano, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/map/8713/oruanui-ash (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, published 2 March 2009.