By RNZ
The New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) is warning of very dangerous avalanche conditions for Tongariro.
The level 4 (high risk) alert is in place for high alpine areas (above 2300 metres), while a considerable danger warning has been issued for alpine terrain elevations (1800m-2300m).
The advisory said multiple avalanches, mostly small, had been triggered by explosive testing at Whakapapa.
The New Zealand Avalanche Danger Scale, which runs from 1 (low risk) to 5 (extreme risk), shows that under a level 4 alert, natural avalanches are likely and human-triggered avalanches are very likely.