Ruapehu crater warning out

SLEEPING GIANT: The summit of Mount Ruapehu, soon after an unheralded eruption of ash and boulders in September 2007. That eruption caused two lahars to run down the mountain. PHOTO/ FILE A-260907WCTGERUPTION27

Cooling in Mount Ruapehu's Crater Lake means there is the chance of a minor eruption, Conservation Department and GNS Science staff say.

They are keeping a close eye on the volcano, which can have spectacular eruptions without warning. They have asked people to stay away from the Crater Lake, summit and other areas that could put them in danger.

Harry Keys and Stephen Moorhouse, from the Conservation Department (DoC) are asking climbers:

-Not to go within 400m of the Crater Lake

-Not to go past Whakapapa Col or the Dome Shed

-Not to go into the crater from above the Turoa ski area

-Not to camp near the summit

-And not to linger in the bottoms of valleys in the Whangaehu and Whakapapaiti catchments, away from public warning systems.

In the meantime, activity on the mountain is as normal for the ski season. Warning signs will be put at the top of the Whakapapa and Turoa ski areas, and at the Tukino road end. Eruption detection systems are working as usual and other precautions have been taken at the Far West T-bar area.

Harry Keys, the Conservation Department's volcanology advisor, says the volcanic alert for the mountain is still at 1 - which is normal, and the likelihood of an eruption is low.

The department and GNS Science will continue to monitor the situation.

Mount Ruapehu's Crater Lake reached a temperature of 40C in May, when there were volcanic tremors but no eruption.