DOC advise the emergency shelter on Mt. Ruapehu is to be demolished.

It has a chequered history.  It particularly featured in 2007 eruption when William Pike and James Christie used the lobby for shelter but instead William Pike’s leg was pinned by rocks that smashed through the door.  His leg was ultimately amputated.

The Dome shelter was also associated the with 1990 tragedy when six soldiers died during a survival  training exercise.

The conditions deteriorated and they could not find the shelter and were found only 150 metres away.

Since the 1995-96 eruptions the shelter’s main function has been to store monitoring equipment.  This is now stored at the Matarangi facility at Glacier Knob.

The Army are assisting with the demolition and expected to start within the next two weeks – weather permitting.