TAURANGA - While White Island puffs steadily in the Bay of Plenty, little notice has been taken of the dormant Mayor Island volcano.
It is 6300 years since the last big eruption on Mayor (Tuhua) Island, 26km from Tauranga.
But moves are afoot to introduce regular monitoring of the1277ha Maori-owned wildlife refuge, which is administered by the Tuhua Trust Board.
Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty Civil Defence manager Barry Low said that although the volcano had not been active in European times, it still needed to be treated with respect.
"We want to make sure we know what is going on out there."
He is seeking $5500 from local authorities for a three-month feasibility study on a suitable site for a seismograph.
Staff from the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences at Wairakei would help monitor and assess data from the trial, which Mr Low hoped would begin in four to six weeks.
The next step would be to install permanent monitoring equipment, which would cost about $10,000, he said.
Isolated from the mainland for at least 15,000 years, Mayor Island is the only caldera (collapsed volcanic cone) of its type close to New Zealand.
The nearest similar one is Raoul Island, in the Kermadec Group, 900km north of Auckland.
Famous for its recreational diving and fishing, Mayor Island has been closed to the public since the beginning of July while the Department of Conservation carries out a three-month eradication programme against pests such as rats and feral cats.
The historic island has significant wetlands, exceptional pohutukawa forest and more than 20 pa sites.
