Wanganui residents are fed up with the "disgusting" foul stench coming from the city's water treatment plant, but know it will be a while before the problem is fixed.

The Whanganui River Rd has more tourists than last year, including an increasing number of cyclists.

Paul Rush tackles foaming rapids on a six-day journey down the Whanganui River.

Cliff Taylor dodges missiles and fickle weather on the Tongariro Crossing.

A moonlit weekend gives Fraser Crichton an opportunity to find out more about Project Tongariro's high-tech Tongariro Alpine Crossing experience.

Only hours after Judy Bailey completed the Tongariro Crossing, the volcano awoke from its century-long slumber...

Interest in the Tongariro Alpine Crossing has gone "through the roof" since Mount Tongariro erupted on Monday night.

Locals have criticised the response to last night's Tongariro eruption as too slow but authorities have defended their procedures, saying they quickly established there was no immediate risk and put plans in place.

Rotoaira local David Bennett was concerned by the lack of communication between the authorities and National Park residents when Mt Tongariro erupted about 4km from his home last night.

The aviation colour code around Mt Tongariro has been downgraded from red to orange, but the volcanic alert level remains at 2.

Eruption activity has subsided but another eruption could occur at any time with little or no warning, according to Civil Defence. Read the latest.

Mt Tongariro is one of three major volcanos in the central North Island, sitting alongside mounts Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe.

Mt Tongariro erupted for the first time in over a century at 11.50pm on August 6, 2012, raining ash onto many Central North Island roads and homes.