Noises and movements have been captured on White Island as it experiences low-level volcanic activity.

The island is situated 48km from the east coast off Whakātane, in the Bay of Plenty.

Visitors to the island in mid-April and this week experienced loud sounds from the active crater area, says GeoNet duty volcanologist, Agnes Mazot.

Observations from visits and web cameras have confirmed that the crater lake is reforming and this means volcanic activity remains at low level one.

She says that in the past few weeks water has ponded on the floor of the active crater and started to reform a permanent lake.

"Volcanic activity is confined to the gas-rich vents on the western side of the active crater. Hot, clear gas continues to be emitted. The seismic and acoustic activity generally remain low, and the SO2 gas flux is also low."

The rising lake level and drowning of some gas-steam vents have occurred in the past and minor steam driven activity has occurred near these vents.

The current lake level rise is likely to do the same and the effects are likely to only be local to the vents.

"Seismic activity on the volcano during the last month has been at low levels, punctuated occasionally by weak volcanic tremor and regional earthquakes nearby. There is no substantial change in the level of volcanic activity."

GeoNet will continue to monitor the volcano for possible renewed activity.

- Stuff