πŸŒ‹VolcanoAtlas

Whakaari / White Island

New Zealand's Most Active Cone Volcano β€” Site of the 2019 Tragedy

Elevation

294 m

Last Eruption

2025

Type

Stratovolcano(es)

Country

New Zealand

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity1 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

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Interesting Facts

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Whakaari/White Island is the emergent peak of a submarine volcano measuring 16 Γ— 18 km at its base β€” the visible island is less than 2% of the total volcanic edifice.

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The 2019 eruption killed 22 people, making it New Zealand's deadliest volcanic event since the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera, which killed an estimated 120 people.

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The crater lake at Whakaari has pH values below 1 β€” more acidic than battery acid β€” making it one of the most corrosive natural water bodies on Earth.

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Captain James Cook named the island in 1769 because it appeared perpetually shrouded in a white cloud of volcanic steam, visible from the open ocean.

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After the 1914 crater wall collapse killed all 10 miners, the only survivor found on the island was the camp cat, 'Peter the Great,' discovered alive two weeks later.

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Whakaari has produced 42 recorded eruptions since 1826 β€” an average of approximately one eruption every 4.7 years β€” making it the most frequently erupting volcanic center in New Zealand.

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The 2019 eruption occurred at Volcanic Alert Level 2, demonstrating that phreatic eruptions can happen even when monitoring indicates only moderate unrest β€” they are inherently unpredictable.

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Before the 2019 disaster, approximately 10,000 tourists per year walked directly into the active volcanic crater of Whakaari, making it one of the most extreme volcanic tourism experiences on Earth.

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The criminal prosecution following the 2019 eruption resulted in convictions under New Zealand's Health and Safety at Work Act β€” the first time volcanic tourism operators were held criminally accountable for eruption deaths.

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Fumarole temperatures inside the crater exceed 800Β°C β€” hot enough to melt aluminum β€” yet tourists routinely walked within meters of these vents before 2019.

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Whakaari sits at the northeastern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, which also contains the Taupo caldera β€” responsible for one of the most powerful eruptions in the last 5,000 years (the 232 AD Hatepe eruption, VEI 7).

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The Māori name Te Puia o Whakaari translates to 'The Dramatic Volcano' β€” a name that has proved tragically apt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit White Island?
No, Whakaari/White Island has been closed to all public access since the deadly eruption of December 9, 2019, which killed 22 people. Before the disaster, commercial tour operators offered boat and helicopter trips from Whakatane that brought visitors directly into the active volcanic crater. Following the eruption, criminal prosecutions resulted in convictions of tour operators, and there is currently no indication that visitor access will resume. The island can be viewed from a distance on scenic boat cruises operating from the Bay of Plenty coast. For safe volcanic tourism experiences in New Zealand, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Waimangu Volcanic Valley are recommended alternatives.
What happened during the 2019 White Island eruption?
At 2:11 PM on December 9, 2019, Whakaari/White Island erupted suddenly while 47 people β€” cruise ship tourists and their guides β€” were inside the active crater. A phreatic (steam-driven) explosion sent a blast of superheated steam, rock, mud, and volcanic gas sweeping across the crater floor. Twenty-two people were killed, some immediately and others in the weeks that followed from catastrophic burns. All survivors suffered severe burns, many covering over 70% of their bodies. The eruption was classified as VEI 2, relatively small by volcanic standards, but deadly at close range. The volcano had been at Volcanic Alert Level 2 (moderate unrest) before the eruption. The disaster led to criminal convictions of tour operators and organizations.
Is White Island still active?
Yes, Whakaari/White Island remains one of New Zealand's most active volcanoes. It erupted most recently in 2024–2025, with ongoing activity detected by GeoNet's remote monitoring systems. The volcano has produced 42 recorded eruptions since 1826 and maintains a vigorous hydrothermal system with fumaroles, acidic lakes, and persistent gas emissions. Its eruption style is predominantly phreatic (steam-driven), which is inherently difficult to predict. GeoNet continuously monitors the volcano with seismometers, cameras, gas sensors, and satellite imagery. The volcano is expected to continue producing eruptions for the foreseeable future.
How many people died on White Island?
Twenty-two people were killed by the December 9, 2019 eruption of Whakaari/White Island. Of the 47 people on the island at the time of the eruption, 22 died β€” some immediately from the blast and burns, others in the days and weeks following in hospital burn units from catastrophic thermal injuries. Additionally, all 25 survivors suffered severe burns, many requiring years of medical treatment. The 2019 disaster was New Zealand's deadliest volcanic event since the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. Earlier, in 1914, a crater wall collapse killed 10 sulfur miners on the island, bringing the total historical death toll to 32.
How far is White Island from the coast?
Whakaari/White Island is located approximately 50 km (31 miles) offshore from the nearest point on New Zealand's North Island coast, in the Bay of Plenty. The nearest town is Whakatane, approximately 49 km to the southwest. Before the island's closure, boat tours from Whakatane took approximately 80 minutes each way to reach the island. Despite its distance from shore, the volcano's constant steam plume is often visible from the mainland on clear days, and larger eruption columns can be seen from even greater distances.
What type of volcano is White Island?
Whakaari/White Island is an andesitic stratovolcano (composite volcano) consisting of two overlapping cones. The visible island, measuring just 2 Γ— 2.4 km, is the small emergent summit of a much larger submarine volcanic edifice measuring 16 Γ— 18 km that rises approximately 1,600 m from the seafloor. The volcano sits at the northeastern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the Australian Plate. Its eruptions are predominantly phreatic and phreatomagmatic β€” driven by the interaction between magmatic heat and a highly active hydrothermal system rather than by the direct eruption of fresh magma to the surface.
Why is White Island so dangerous?
Whakaari/White Island is exceptionally dangerous for several compounding reasons. Its eruptions are predominantly phreatic (steam-driven), which are among the most difficult to forecast because they result from sudden pressure changes in shallow hydrothermal systems rather than from the detectable upward migration of magma. The crater is a confined amphitheater with limited escape routes, trapping anyone inside during an eruption. Eruption products include superheated steam (temperatures exceeding 100Β°C causing catastrophic burns), ballistic rock fragments, and acidic fluids. The 2019 disaster demonstrated that even a VEI 2 eruption β€” small by volcanic standards β€” can be lethal within the crater.
Who owns White Island?
Whakaari/White Island is privately owned. The island has been in private ownership since the 19th century and is currently held by the Buttle family trust. It was designated a private scenic reserve in 1953 under New Zealand conservation law. The island also holds significant cultural importance for the Ngāti Awa iwi (Māori tribe), who maintain traditional authority (mana whenua) over the area. The dual naming β€” Whakaari/White Island β€” reflects this shared heritage. Following the 2019 eruption and the closure of the island to visitors, the question of future management and access remains unresolved.
How tall is White Island?
Whakaari/White Island rises to just 294 m (965 ft) above sea level, making it one of the lowest-elevation active volcanoes in the world. However, this figure is misleading: the visible island is merely the emergent tip of a massive submarine volcanic structure measuring 16 Γ— 18 km at its base on the seafloor. The total height of the volcanic edifice from base to summit is approximately 1,600 m (5,250 ft), comparable to many major land-based stratovolcanoes. The crater floor sits at or slightly below sea level, meaning visitors historically walked downward from the landing area into the active volcanic zone.
When did White Island last erupt?
Whakaari/White Island most recently erupted in 2024–2025, with an eruptive episode beginning on May 24, 2024, and further activity recorded from August 2025. These eruptions were detected by GeoNet's remote monitoring network, as the island has been closed to human access since the deadly 2019 eruption. Prior to this, the volcano erupted in 2016 (two separate events in April and September). With 42 recorded eruptions since 1826, the volcano erupts on average approximately once every 4–5 years, though activity tends to cluster in multi-year sequences separated by longer quiet intervals.