DOC team arrives on Raoul Island

A team of police, scientists and Department of Conservation workers landed on Raoul Island today.

The vessel Braveheart arrived at the island at daybreak today and the expedition team disembarked on the island, DOC's Warkworth area manager Rolien Elliot said.

Volcanologists Michael Rosenberg and Craig Miller said no sign of any volcanic activity could be seen from the boat and when they reached the safe landing area at Fishing Rock, no seismic tremors could be felt, Ms Elliot said.

An airforce Orion was due to fly over the island at about 11.30am today to report on the state of the island, the volcano and crater area to the scientists onshore.

Those onshore will then make the final assessment and advise whether it is safe to move to other areas on the island.

Conservation worker Mark Kearney, 33, is missing, presumed dead, after the eruption on Friday morning which happened as he was checking the crater lake temperature.

DOC had its five remaining workers airlifted from Raoul Island, the northernmost and largest of the Kermadec Islands chain about 950km northeast of Auckland, and has declared the island off-limits.

- NZPA