Preface
Throughout history, New Zealand has been and remains one of the most active volcanic regions in the world. Much of the North Island has been shaped by eruptions, and the soils resulting from those eruptions greatly influence today's agriculture.
With the intensity of current farming and forestry, even a moderate to minor eruption will have significant impacts. This was well illustrated by the eruptions of Mount Ruapehu during 1995 and 1996 which, although quite minor in nature, did disrupt farming to a degree and could have greater consequences if the eruptions had occurred at different times of the year.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), via the Policy Information Group, has a responsibility to report to Government on the impacts of adverse climatic and natural disasters affecting the primary sector, and is likely to be directly involved in any post-event rehabilitation measures. It was clear from the recent Ruapehu eruptions that knowledge of the effect of volcanic eruptions on agriculture and forestry was somewhat scanty; although MAF did publish a brochure Volcanic Alert to assist farmers and growers in their decision making. It was also clear that the institutional arrangements to handle such emergencies, in the absence of a Civil Defence Emergency declaration, were less than satisfactory.
As a result of the Ruapehu experience, MAF commissioned this report; bringing together the expertise of agriculturalists, horticulturalists, volcanologists and foresters to examine the impact a range of eruption scenarios may have on the agriculture and forestry sectors; plus discuss some possible institutional arrangements.
As discussed in the report, most eruption scenarios are likely to have a significant impact on the sectors and consequently on the national as a whole. Organisations likely to be involved need to be cognisant of these implications and plan, as much as is possible, accordingly.
Alan Walker
Director, Policy Information Group
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