Mt Tongariro errupts---we are not called the 'shakey isles for nothing

New Zealand has been called ‘The Shakey Isles.’ The reason for this is that we lie on the Pacific ‘Rim of Fire, which means lots of earthquakes and sometimes, eruptions, much like Indonesia, but on a smaller scale.

Last night’s eruption of Mt Tongariro was a timely reminder that ‘mother nature’ is always willing to let us know that we are but a blimp on the face of the earth. No one has been hurt and so far tourists haven’t turned their backs on us. Indeed, if many of them, along with locals had their way, they would love to take a much closer look than the officials would like. I guess the same reasoning fuels those idiots who go down to the seashore when a Tsunami alert is put out.

Now we wait and watch to see if Tongariro is setting herself up for a major blast. It has happened in the past in this region and it will surely ensue again. Do we worry about such events in NZ? Of course we do but not at the expense of the enjoyment and love we have for this wonderful country. God’s own—yes, but with a price.