Smoke-looking clouds on Taranaki maunga are ‘just dust’

Clouds of smoke rising from Te Papakura o Taranaki. Photo – Simon O’Connor/Stuff

Onlookers watched “plumes of smoke” rise from Taranaki Maunga this week, with dozens posting to social media, some calling the Department of Conservation, and one phoning the fire service.

But there was no fire.

The smoke-looking clouds were simply dust caused by “wind and very dry conditions”, Department of Conservation (DOC) senior ranger Dave Rogers said.

The plumes were coming from the Pyramid Stream near the sea-side of the mountain, which in the summer months has no water running through. The same happens with the Oaonui Stream.

Read full Taranaki Daily News article here.