On White Island

Photo News Feature Pages

On White Island, in the Bay of Plenty offshore from Whakatane, 12 lives were lost in 1914 when the island erupted.

The thought of White Island's lethal history was no doubt in the minds of a party from Rotorua who were on the island in November when a cloud of ash suddenly erupted many thousands of feet into the air. Some had to run for cover as the ash showered on them.

The party included Rotorua Photo News editor Jack Lang, who took this dramatic picture looking down into the crater.