Rotorua’s geysers?

What’s happening to Rotorua’s geysers?

PETER O’LOUGHLIN, Sydney Bureau Chief of the As sociated Press, was in Rotorua for the 13th meeting of the South Pacific Forum in August. He writes below on what could become a major problem for New Zealand’s tourist industry, and thus for its whole economy: the famed geysers of Rotorua show signs of disappearing.

New Zealand’s famous thermal springs and geysers are running out of steam, and the Govern ment has launched an inquiry to find out the cause.

The disappearance of the geys ers could cost the country mill ions of dollars in tourist revenue and threaten hundreds of jobs at Rotorua, the main tourist town in the thermal region.

Opinions differ as to why the geysers are drying up. Only five out of 15 remain active, spurting steam and boiling water in giant plumes high into the air.

Bruce Houghton, a Depart ment of Scientific and Industrial Research scientist, said the hot springs associated with the last geysers were drying up daily.

“Two springs disappeared on Friday,” he said. “If the geysers and the mud pools disappear it could be disastrous for Rotorua and New Zealand.”

Peter Tapsell, a member of New Zealand’s Parliament, has blamed prolific use of geother mal power for domestic purposes for the disappearance of the geysers.

All houses and hotels have private thermal wells that draw underground steam and hot water.

Hotels have large thermal pools and spas. There is also a geothermal power station in the area.

“Bubbles” Mihinui, who is from the Maori tribe which lives next to the last functioning geys er field at Whakarewarewa has watched the thermal activity die.

“I’ve been a guide here for 40 years and what is happening here now is alarming. We used to have 15 geysers, now there are only five,” she said.

“The biggest, Pohutu, doesn’t go so high or as often. Some people say it’s the houses draw ing off all the steam. Some say it is because it hasn’t rained enough to provide underground water.

“But many people just waste the steam and hot water.”

More ominously, Rotorua and surrounding districts were rocked by nine earth tremors in early August, leading to speculation that dramatic changes may be taking place in this volatile region.

In 1886, Tarawera volcano, 25 kilometres from Rotorua, erupt ed, killing 153 people.

The region around Rotorua is dotted with volcanic activity, boiling pools, steam fissures, yellow sulphur, and the sounds of gurgling pools of boiling mud.

Writer George Bernard Shaw, after visiting one of the areas called Hell’s Gate, said; “Hell’s Gate I think is the most damnable place I have ever visited, and I’d willingly have paid 10 pounds not to have seen it.”

But for “Bubbles” Mihinui, whose Maori tribe has lived by the geysers for hundreds of years, the answer to the death of the geysers is tied up with Maori legend. “This is a gift of the gods, we should use it not abuse it,” she said.