Complaints over safety of school children at Mount Tongariro

Many parents have complained that it is not safe enough for their children to go up their again today following yesterday's eruption.

Just yesterday a massive eruption took place on Mount Tongariro while school children were already on the mountain in groups. They were evacuated today. 

The school is sending another group to tramp atleast two hours up the mountain today but parents are angry. 

Complaints have flurryed in, including the complaints being posted on TV.

A hundred students and teachers were sent running for their lives when ash and steam came billowing out of the mountain.

Ninety children and eight adults from Napier's Tamatea Intermediate were eating their lunch when the Te Maari crater erupted about 1.25pm.

The "shaken" children, rushed back to the school bus which was waiting for them at the end of the track.

Amateur video shows the children running down the track, some screaming, as an ominous black cloud of ash rises behind them.

"It was a very exciting day, not quite the day we had planned," said Principal Roy Sye. "They are studying volcanoes, so they got a first-hand look at when nature goes unannounced."

The school's outing was their second trip to the volatile region in the last two weeks.

"We looked at the DOC warnings and advisories, and we do make sure we ring and check on the day for any heightened level of risk," Sye said.

Parents are angry it has not been called off.