A Tuwharetoa subtribe's evacuation plan which was put into action after the Mt Tongariro eruption on Monday night has prompted neighbours near the mountain to talk to each other.
Te Runanga o Ngati Hikairo ki Tongariro spokesperson Bub Smith says the hapu's preparation for the evacuation strategy worked well.
He says sometimes it's quite hard to pop your head over the fence and check on the neighbours, even though they may be your cousin.
Mr Smith says the eruption has helped rekindle communication between neighbours who live near the mountain.
