An observation flight has confirmed no eruption at Whakaari/White Island this week despite large steam and gas plumes over the island.

Photos posted to social media on Saturday showed a large white column rising from the volcanic island 50km northeast of Whakatāne.

GeoNet webcams also captured the event.

The agency said today that an observation flight on Monday saw no sign of recent explosive activity, with no ash visible in the plume and vent temperatures relatively low at less than 100C.

Duty volcanologist Rebecca Fitzgerald said calm atmospheric conditions contributed to the large plume.

“Volcanic plumes are a common feature of Whakaari/White Island non-eruptive activity – often seen from the coast.

“They are emitted from active vents within the main crater and in calm conditions can stand kilometres high above the island.

“These non-eruptive, passive plumes – also referred to as ‘steam and gas’ plumes – are mostly made up of water vapour with lesser amounts of sulphur and carbon gases.

“When combined with the right atmospheric conditions, these plumes can increase in size – as was the case over this week.”

She said gas emissions had shown an overall decline at the island since December 2024.

GeoNet told the NZ Herald on Saturday that there had been no evidence of ash being emitted at Whakaari/White Island for the past two months, and no eruptive activity had been observed since March.

“Without sensors on the island, our monitoring of Whakaari/White Island continues to rely on remote cameras, satellite imagery and periodic gas and observation flights,” the agency said.

Twenty-two people died after an eruption took place as 47 tourists and their guides visited the island in December 2019.

Whakaari/White Island has remained closed to commercial visitors since the tragedy.