On the 23rd September 1995 Mount Ruapehu let off a bit of steam.

The eruption sent ash and steam up into the atmosphere in a spectacular cloud.

The picture to the right shows the mighty mountain showing us that nature still has the upper hand. This eruption happened about 5:20 pm. And took several hours to blow away - probably up to the Aucklanders - serves them right after all they had just won the shield!

But I suppose that is what you get when you live next to a volcano. It didn't do the Romans any good... and we still haven't learnt.

This picture on the left is of the mountain letting off a bit more steam the next morning around 10 am... when I had managed to get out of bed and come into the office to transfer the pictures off the video camera. So at the end of the day I suppose the motto is "don't mess with large active volcano(s)" !
Stimulus (NZ) Limited - P.O.Box 646 - Taupo - New Zealand