From the day 600 years ago when the residents of Motutapu Island stood in a layer of fresh ash and watched the birth of Rangitoto, New Zealanders have understood that their land was at the mercy of the forces of nature.

The Auckland Museum is celebrating Auckland's unusual geological heritage by developing a permanent gallery about volcanoes and how we live with them in Auckland, New Zealand and around the world.

Image: The exhibition design features a new level of immersive experience where people can witness, through all their senses, the emergence, the eruption and the aftermath of a volcano in the Waitemata.From the day 600 years ago when the residents of Motutapu Island stood in a layer of fresh ash and watched the birth of Rangitoto, New Zealanders have understood that their land was at the mercy of the forces of nature.

The Auckland Museum is celebrating Auckland's unusual geological heritage by developing a permanent gallery about volcanoes and how we live with them in Auckland, New Zealand and around the world.

Image: The exhibition design features a new level of immersive experience where people can witness, through all their senses, the emergence, the eruption and the aftermath of a volcano in the Waitemata.Volcanoes is presented in association with EQC, the Earthquake Commission and is free with admission donation.

Auckland is the only city in the world that is built on an active volcanic field. The exhibition examines the scientific and human stories of volcanoes from the Motutapu footprints through to the great eruptions of the world.

Walk through the mysterious and primordial world of the Black Smokers - hydrothermal volcanic vents that pump super-heated, mineral rich fluids into the sea producing unique and bizarre deep water lifeforms. These minerals could be the future of New Zealand's mineral resources as conventional fossil fuels continue to dwindle.

Find out the origin of volcanoes and how they can benefit societies. Experience the terror of an eruption and learn how to best cope with possible future eruptions.

What exactly are volcanoes? How do they work?
Why are they there?
What is their history?
What do they mean to us?

Auckland is the only city in the world built on an active volcanic field - the last eruption produced Rangitoto some 600 years ago -

When will the next one erupt?
Where will it erupt?
How will it erupt and for how long?

All of these questions are explored in Auckland Museum's dynamic new permanent natural history exhibition - VOLCANOES.

The highly interactive exhibition takes you on a sensory journey that explores the geographical, social and cultural impact of volcanoes in Auckland, throughout New Zealand and around the world. It also tells us what we should do to increase our awareness of the risks involved.
Volcanoes is to be housed in the Western First Floor Gallery and associated Natural History Information Centre. The gallery will be installed with a series of modules telling various stories, containing artefacts, film and video. A highlight of the exhibition is the "Breaking News" story of an imminent eruption in Auckland. This will culminate in an immersive experience in an Auckland lounge room which acts as a theatre for up to 50 people, who will witness, through all their senses, the emergence, eruption and aftermath of a volcano in Auckland Harbour.

Exhibits will tell the story of human interaction with volcanoes from Maori myths and the witnessing of Rangitoto's emergence, including the Motutapu footprints, to their use as pa sites and quarries. Historic disasters such as Tarawera and Tangiwai are encountered as are the catastrophic effects for life in New Zealand that another major Taupo or Taranaki eruption would create.

Opens 17 December 2005

Volcanoes Gallery, Level 1

FREE with admission donation
Lecture Series

In association with EQC, the Earthquake Commission, Auckland Museum Institute and University of Auckland

Lectures will begin at 7.30pm in the APEC Room. The Volcanoes exhibition will be open from 6.00pm each evening. Entry to the Museum via the front doors.

Lecture Prices: Costs $5 per person, Museum Members $3

The series will cover the following topics:

March 2nd - Volcanology in the Solar System
March 8th - Volcanology on a world scale
March 15th -Volcanology of NZ and Auckland in particular