A 3km exclusion zone has been set up around Mt Tongariro after it blew rock and ash high into the air on Wednesday, with experts warning there is a very real chance of it erupting again.
GNS Scientist Nico Fournier said: "It has been a quiet night in the park. On the GeoNet website, people may have noticed some earthquake-like spikes in rapid succession at some stations on Thursday evening. These were caused by thunderstorm and lightening in the Tongariro National Park. They were not real earthquakes and were not caused by any of the volcanoes."
GNS Science yesterday cancelled its national advisory after the eruption from the Te Maari crater.
However, it says there remains a "significant probability of a sudden eruption within the next week".
Should a further eruption occur, a new national advisory or warning would be issued.