Should Mount Taranaki erupt, the Stratford area would more than likely be in the ash fall zone, says Professor Shane Cronin, who is involved in a project to provide tools for swift economic recovery in the event of a volcanic eruption.
Volcanologists and statisticians from Massey University will work with a market economics team of environmental and ecological economists led by Massey graduate Dr Garry McDonald, and draw upon a decade of research and lessons from the Christchurch rebuild.
The team was recently awarded $250,000 for the project by the Ministry of Science and Innovation's New Zealand Natural Hazards Research Platform, and the Stratford Press talked to Prof Cronin on how this area is likely to be affected and how the model will aid local government and others to keep the economy going.
``Stratford is the more likely area for volcanic ash fall. Typically with a Taranaki eruption there are two major hazards, ash fall that will follow prevailing winds; and flow that will follow the major river systems and Stratford has the Patea. There are several catchments on the eastern side of the volcano that has had lahars in the past.''
But, he adds the mountain is showing no signs of activity and should it erupt it is unlikely it would make the whole province unliveable.