Natural causes rather than seismic activity probably triggered the massive landslide in Mt Aspiring National Park.

The landslip, about 150m wide and 150m long, sent at least half a million cubic metres of rock and debris crashing into the John Inglis valley floor burying an alpine lake and blocking a tributary of the Joe River.

Wakatipu DOC area manager Greg Lind said trampers in the park should take extreme care.

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Source: New Zealand Herald

It is only a matter of time until up to one million cubic metres of water - enough to fill 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools - will burst from the Mt Ruapehu crater lake and sweep down the Whangaehu Valley, says the Department of Conservation.

"If that water comes out in half an hour, you can expect quite a sizeable lahar," said DoC scientist Harry Keys.

Dr Keys said the lake was at a record level, 2.8m below the top of a dam that has started leaking up to 10 litres a second. The seepage is eroding the dam, which blocks the lake's usual outlet.

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Source: New Zealand Herald

Conservator, Paul Green, says, “The lake level has reached Warning Level 2 on a scale of levels set by the agencies involved in monitoring and responding to a lahar from the lake. This level is significant in that the water level is now half way to the top of the 7.6 metre high dam. However, the likelihood of a lahar occurring at this level is considered to be only 1-2% and should one occur it would be small.”

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Source: Department of Conservation