Via Radio New Zealand News: Trampers quit slopes as Mt Tongariro erupts. Excerpt:
Trampers on the popular walking track, Tongariro Crossing, are scrambling off Mt Tongariro after an new eruption on its northern slopes.
The eruption happened at about 1.30 pm at e Maari craters.
This is the same crater where a big eruption happened in August.
Police say 30 to 50 people were tramping on the crossing track at the time of the eruption. None of them were believed to have been put in danger.
A lot of people walked off the mountain in the hours after the eruption but some have remained up there. A helicopter pilot who witnessed the eruption says there were people on the mountainside at the time.
Helicopter Services Bay of Plenty pilot John Funnell was flying over Mount Ruapehu when Tongariro erupted around the Te Maari craters on its northern side.
He says he could see up to 20 people on the ground by the Ketetahi hut on Tongariro's northern slopes, but they didn't appear to be concerned.
Mr Funnell later said some ash was starting spread as it was caught by high-altitude winds, but he could also see ash on the ground.
Road access at both ends of the Tongariro Crossing has been closed to traffic.The blog Eruptions has some background on recent volcanism in the region.
