Ash from White Island volcano disrupts flights at Whakatāne and Tauranga airports, New Zealand
Ash from the Whakaari/White Island volcano caused multiple flight cancellations in parts of New Zealand on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, with the Whakatāne and Tauranga airports reporting severe service impacts due to the ash.
Image of White Island volcano from observation flight on November 3, 2025, showing the steam and gas plume, containing minor amounts of volcanic ash. Credit: Craig Miller
Chief executive Mark Read said Air Chathams cancelled morning and afternoon flights in and out of Whakatāne on Tuesday due to the volcanic ash advisory. Air Chathams’ Whakatāne services fly to Auckland, Paraparaumu and Whanganui.
Volcanic ash also disrupted flights at Tauranga Airport, leading to at least 8 cancellations. The last four flights departing Tauranga on Monday night, November 17, were cancelled along with the first four departures on Tuesday morning, Airport Manager Ray Dumble told RNZ.
Tauranga Airport has since resumed services.
The volcano remains at Alert Level 3, indicating minor eruptive activity. The Aviation Color Code remains at Orange.
Back in December 2019, the White Island volcano erupted, killing 22 people and seriously injuring 25 others. Just last month, on October 30, new ash emissions were confirmed at the volcano, with an observation flight on November 3 confirming an ash plume rising 400–500 m (1,300–1,600 feet) above sea level.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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