18 March 2007 Media Statement

Ruapehu lahar goes according to plan

Minister of Conservation Chris Carter is praising all the agencies involved in managing the Mt Ruapehu lahar today.

“I am delighted with the way things have gone today on Mt Ruapehu”, said Mr Carter.

“The lahar travelled down the path as predicted, and the early warning response system that this government provided worked exactly as planned,” said Mr Carter.

The bund built to divert the path of the water and mud from the crater lake on Mount Ruapehu withstood the lahar, and the lahar continued down the Whangaehu Valley away from the Tongariro catchment. The lahar also continued safely down the valley and underneath the Tangiwai Bridge.

“I am pleased that we now have a robust system in place to manage this kind of natural event, and to do so with a great degree of advance warning, with the least amount of damage to people and property is the ideal situation.”

The management system for the Mount Ruapehu lahar is the international best practice for this type of natural event.

The response plan triggered today involved officials from the Department of Conservation, Civil Defence, Police, Horizons Manawatu and the Ruapehu District Council.

ENDS

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