Taupo's mayor has criticised the response to Mt Tongariro's eruption this week, calling it an overreaction.
Thick grey smoke, gas and ash spewed 4km into the sky from Te Maari vent on the western side of the mountain during the unexpected eruption just before 1.30pm on Wednesday.
It is the same place where Tongariro erupted in August, for the first time in more than a century.
Flights were cancelled, a Civil Defence alert put out, a 3km exclusion zone has been set up around Mt Tongariro and The Department of Conservation (Doc) closed its tracks within a 3km radius of the crater.
But Mayor Rick Cooper told Newstalk ZB the response an overreaction, saying a society we have become too precious.
Mt Tongariro is a live volcano, so small eruptions are a fact of life, he said.
"We have to live and learn to live with a live volcano. She does, from time to time, the beautiful woman, stamp her feet. Whilst we need to take all precautions we should not overreact," he told the radio station.
However, Mr Cooper told Newstalk ZB it was good to have the area's beauty promoted on the world stage.
Experts warn there is a high chance of Mt Tongariro erupting again, in the next week.
"The volcano is in a state of unrest," he said, "I definitely wouldn't say another eruption wasn't going to happen," GNS volcanologist Brad Scott.
DoC spokesman Bhrent Guys said staff would remain posted at the main entrances to the national park on the central plateau tomorrow to stop curious spectators getting too close and the Tongariro Crossing would remain closed for at least the next two more days. - apnz