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Volcanoes: Are you ready?

Kia rite! Get ready!  

Here in Tāmaki Makaurau we’re surrounded by volcanoes, and we can’t predict eruptions. While it’s unlikely to happen in your lifetime, an eruption in Tāmaki would cause a lot of damage and disruption.

You need to be prepared for ash, falling rocks, lava flows, gas, shockwaves, earthquakes, tsunamis, and a fast-moving mixture of hot gases and volcanic rock called a base surge. 

If a volcano erupts, would you know how to stay safe?  To get ready, read on below. 

What to do before an eruption

What to do before an eruption

  • Sit down with whānau and make an emergency plan. Practise it. 

  • Make sure you have enough supplies (food, toilet paper, face masks, etc) for three days - don't forget babies and pets!

  • Make sure you have supplies for whānau with extra needs.

  • Get to know your neighbours.

  • Make sure you have enough water (at least 9 litres of water for each person).

  • Make sure you have enough insurance cover for your home and contents.

  • Prepare a grab-bag so you can get out quickly if you need to.

  • Volcanic activity often brings earthquakes with it. Prepare your home and protect your whānau by acting now to fasten tall and heavy furniture, secure home foundations, and more. Find out how in the Be Prepared section of the Natural Hazards Commission website.

During an eruption

During an eruption

  • A volcanic eruption will be loud and scary, but if you’re prepared, you’ll be able to look after yourself and your whānau.

  • Follow official instructions from Civil Defence Emergency Management to stay put or move to a safe location.

  • Close doors and windows, and cover gaps with damp towels.

  • Keep your phone charged with a battery pack and have a battery-powered radio so you can stay in touch with information if there's no internet access.

  • If you need to go outside, keep your skin and eyes covered with goggles or glasses, and cover your nose and mouth with a mask or a scarf.

  • Check on your friends and neighbours.

  • Bring pets and animals inside.

Get your grab-bag ready to go

If there’s an eruption, Civil Defence Emergency Management might tell you to evacuate. Get your grab-bag ready with these things so you can leave in a hurry. Remember, you may need to shelter in your car so keep a grab-bag there too. 

Water

Water

3 litres per person, per day.

<sub>First-aid & medication</sub>

First-aid & medication

For the whole whānau, and pets too.

Food

Food

Choose long-lasting food. Don't forget food for your pets too

Torch

Torch

And extra batteries too. 

Goggles and a mask

Goggles and a mask

P2 or N95

Warm, weatherproof clothing

Warm, weatherproof clothing

Including a raincoat, a hat, and study shoes

Cellphone and radio

Cellphone and radio

With a power bank, and a radio with extra batteries in case there is no signal  

Toy

Toy

To help pass the time

Hand sanitiser

Hand sanitiser

Bring soap too, and toilet paper!

Identification

Identification

And a list of emergency contacts too

After an eruption

After an eruption

After an eruption, it's important to stay calm and alert, and to keep listening for updates and instructions. 

  • Look for updates from Civil Defence Emergency Management, local authorities, and emergency services.

  • If you were asked to evacuate, stay where it’s safe until you’re told you can go home.

  • Help out your neighbours and others if you can.  

  • Keep ash outside your home or shelter – it’s toxic and dangerous.  

  • Follow Civil Defence Emergency Management instructions for how to clean up ash safely.

Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake and insurance

In Tāmaki Makaurau you never know if an unexpected burst of volcanic activity could occur, so it’s best to be prepared and know you have the backing of the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake. Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake provides natural hazard education, research and insurance. Check them out to know more about how you can prepare your home and insure yourself for a possible volcanic event. 

Today Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake automatically protects all New Zealanders who have home insurance which includes fire cover. This is called NHCover and allows you to claim on damage to your home should a volcanic event occur. This allows you to have peace of mind with affordable insurance. For more insurance information follow this link.

Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum acknowledges Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake's continuous support of the Mataaho Volcanoes gallery. 

Are you ready?

Are you ready?

A volcanic event has started - can you help Steph get ready and keep her crew safe? 

PLAY NOW

Ngā Tūpuna Maunga O Tāmaki, Auckland’s Ancestral Mountains

Find out more about Tūpuna Maunga and their stories below. 

Ngā Tapuwae Ō Mataaho

The Auckland Volcanic Field

The Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF) is the name of the volcanic area in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Unlike other volcanic systems in the North Island where eruptions happen again and again in one location, the AVF tends to erupt in a new location each time. 

Pukekawa, where Auckland Museum lives, is one of 53 maunga that have erupted in the Auckland region in the last 200,000 years. The largest and most recent eruption was Rangitoto, only about 600 years ago. 

Living on an active volcanic field may not sound like a smart thing to do, but maunga are actually a big part of Auckland's success as a city. Volcanic soil is fertile; volcanic rocks are sturdy building materials and form natural water reservoirs. And, last but not least, maunga are beautiful. 

Rangitoto

One fiery story about Rangitoto tells that a long time ago, a couple were so busy arguing that they left their fire go out. They cursed Mahuika, the fire goddess, who asked Mataaho to teach them a lesson. Mataaho sent an explosion that made Rangitoto, which became their prison.

Mataaho

Mataaho, or Mataoho, is the atua (god) of volcanoes, and he lived in the crate on top of Maungawhau Mount Eden. It’s even named Te Ipu-a-Mataoho (the bowl of Mataoho) after him. 

Download the brochure

Download a copy of our brochure to keep all of this volcano preparedness info in one handy place.

GET READY!

Download the brochure

DEtermining VOlcanic Risk in Auckland (DEVORA) is a multi-agency collaborative research programme, with looks at the Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF). Follow their research or check out their amazing selection of AVF fact sheets here!

The Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority, governs the Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) of Tāmaki Makaurau. Learn more about these special maunga here!

Auckland Emergency Management is the local organisation involved in the coordination of Civil Defence emergency management. Check them out to see how to get ready for an emergency.