DOWN MEMORY LANE: THE WHITE ISLAND (WHAKAARI), N.Z

That is an incredible photograph. It captures a moment in history at Whakaari (White Island), New Zealand’s most active cone volcano. Seeing it from the perspective of a sailor on the K.D. LEKIR (a Royal Malaysian Navy ship) adds a unique layer of historical context to the 1991 activity.

Whakaari is a fascinating but volatile place. Here is a bit more background on what was happening around the time this photo was taken:

The 1991 Eruption Phase

While Whakaari is almost always steaming, the period between 1975 and 2000 represented its longest historical eruption episode.

• October 1991: This specific timeframe saw intermittent phreatic (steam-driven) eruptions. These occur when water is heated by magma, flashing into steam and blowing out rock and ash without necessarily releasing new lava.
• The Landscape: You can see the characteristic ash-laden "plume" in your photo. This plume often contains sulfur dioxide and other gases, which is why the island has that distinct yellowish-white appearance.

Whakaari Geologic Fast Facts

Feature             Details

Type                 Stratovolcano (Composite)

Status              Active

Location           Bay of Plenty, NZ

Size                 70% of the volcano is actually underwater.

KD LEKIR

K.D. Lekir (F26) - Kasturi-class corvette would have been relatively new in 1991, having been commissioned in the mid-80s. It’s a striking juxtaposition of naval precision against the raw, unpredictable power of nature.

It is worth noting that the island became a much more somber site following the tragic eruption in December 2019, which led to a permanent halt of tourism on the island. Photos like yours serve as important records of the volcano's long history of activity.

In 1991, KD Lekir (F26) and KD Mahawangsa (A1504) was part of a significant deployment that took the Royal Malaysian Navy across the Pacific, including a notable visit and participating in the 50th Anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Navy at Auckland. KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa were pride of the fleet during that era. Both ships sailed from the Lumut Naval Base in Malaysia, transiting the Torres Strait and around Australia, with stops in major ports like Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, Fremantle (Perth) and Adelaide before crossing the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. 

The ships transisted the Bay of Plenty, a common route for vessels heading toward Auckland and Wellington. Passing by Whakaari (White Island) is a highlight for many sailors due to the rare sight of an active Marine Volcano. 

For the ship cres, a deployment to Australia and  New Zealand was a major event, the long voyage were used for intensive training, testing the ship's endurance and the crew's ability to maintain a high-tech built Navy ships.

I am proud to be a part of the elite 22nd Corvette Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Navy. 

The KD Lekir is a true survivor. Even today, over 30 years after that photo was taken, she is still in active service following a major "Life Extension" upgrade in 2011.

Google Gemini AI

30 January 2026: 1.12 p.m