For the first time ever, the volcanic alert level for Taupō has risen from zero to 1. But don't panic - Lake Taupō isn't erupting anytime soon!
GeoNet has noticed an increase in small earthquakes and movement of the lake bed, since May. And some of those have been big enough shakes to be felt by people.
But while this is the first time the alert level has been raised, it's not the first time Lake Taupō has seen volcanic unrest.
While they haven't been crater-creating eruptions, Lake Taupō has recorded about 600 earthquakes in the lake area, and have noted 17 previous episodes of unrest over the past 150 years
"One of the key things is over the past few years, we've really started to understand better what volcanic alert level one means at Lake Taupō Volcano, and with the current level of activity that we've recorded, the earthquakes and the ground deformation, we feel it is appropriate to set the alert level at one," GNS Science Volcanology Team Leader Nico Fournier said.
To compare, Whaakari White Island remains at Alert Level two.
GeoNet told Newshub that said the earthquakes and deformation could continue for the coming months, but most of the activity will only be detected by sensitive monitoring instruments.
Learn more about Lake Taupo's alert level below:
