Mt Tongariro eruption: Code red  A thick ash cloud is covering much of the central North Island after Mt Tongariro erupted for the first time in more than a century late last night.   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10825125                

This was the news when I woke up this morning.  The ash just spread east, briefly closing the Desert Road (route we took to Rotorua) and causing flight cancellations to Napier; but no ash here in Palmy, and things seem to be business as usual.  The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of the most popular walks in New Zealand; you can see the track in the picture as it goes past the Red Crater and Blue Lake.