Whakaari White Island: New Zealand's Active Marine Volcano
EducationWhakaari White Island: New Zealand's Active Marine Volcano
White Island, New Zealand’s most active volcano, is situated about 48 km off the Bay of Plenty coast. The nearest towns are Whakatane and Tauranga. Being New Zealand’s only live marine volcano, scientists and volcanologists from around the world are attracted by its unique features. As an active volcano it has an alert level rating of 1.
The island is only the tip of a volcano believed to be between 100,000 and 200,000 years old. The part of the island showing above water is believed to be around 16,000 years old, being the newest of three volcanic cones.
The European name of White Island was given by Capt James Cook, on 1 November 1769. Although he didn’t land on the island, he described it as being shrouded in a cloud of white steam. In actual fact, the island is more yellow in appearance, because of its sulphur content. Long before Capt Cook’s arrival, Maori people used the island as a base for catching mutton birds. The name Whakaari means ‘that which can be made visible’ as the island is often hidden by cloud, only to emerge in full view a few days later.
The island has an interesting history. The first European to visit it was a missionary, Rev Henry Williams in 1826. The island came into private European possession in the late 1830s and has remained privately owned ever since. In 1953 the New Zealand government tried to buy it, but were tuned down. However, a compromise was reached and since then it has been a Private Scenic Reserve.
Sulphur mining went through many on again off again stages until it eventually finished in the 1930s. Threats of eruptions closed mining down on several occasions, especially after the major Tarawera eruption on the mainland in 1886. In September 1914, shortly after a new mining camp had been established on the island, a crater wall collapsed, and a lahar killed the 11 miners asleep in their huts. All the buildings and equipment were also destroyed. The only survivor was the mining camp’s cat. This event is considered one of the three major volcanic disasters in New Zealand.
Since 1976 White Island has been more active than it has been for the last few hundred years. It is closely monitored by the DSIR, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, using a radio-telemetered seismograph to detect earthquakes, volcanic tremor and air shock waves from volcanic explosions.
Being a private island, access is limited. Only approved tour guides have permission to take tourists to the island. A launch leaves Whakatane on the mainland daily, taking visitors on a six hour excursion that they will never forget. Walking on White Island is said to be like walking on the moon. Little vegetation exists, and the only life is the sea birds, especially mutton birds. Visitors experience the barrenness, the steam, the sulphur and gas and are supplied with masks and safety procedures in case anything unexpected happens.