October 13, 2013
Geyser coming back to life
Rotorua Maori are welcoming the return to life of a geyser in Te Whakarewarewa Valley.
Papakura has been dormant since 1979, when its failure sparked concern about excessive draw-off from the geothermal field.
GNS Science volcanologist Brad Scott says a small 1 meter eruption of water and steam a fortnight ago was the first sign of a revival in the field since Rotorua’s bores were closed two decades ago.
Malcolm Short, the chair of Whakarewarewa Joint Lands Trust, says the recovery of what had been a tourist icon was important for the valley and shows the importance of groundwater levels to geothermal fields.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd