Ruapehu locals eager to welcome back tourists post-COVID-19 say "the mountain will do what the mountain will do", and they are not too concerned about the change in alert levels.
Ruapehu District Mayor Don Cameron told Newshub: "There is something about that mountain, you know it's alive and everybody understands that here.
"We are under a living volcano, that's the attraction so we listen to GNS, take advice and we are prepared."
The mountain is at volcanic alert level 2, and GNS Science experts are warning people visiting the Tongariro region to stay informed.
Civil Defence officials have met with Tongariro officials to discuss Mount Ruapehu's ongoing unrest.
"Level 2 is moderate to heightened unrest. We are more in the heightened unrest and that indicates our level of concern," said GNS Science volcanologist Geoff Kilgour.
Scientists were up overhead monitoring it on Wednesday.
It's unsafe to land but they're scooping up water samples that show high levels of CO2 and sulphur dioxide. Kilgour said the crater lake is a looking-glass to what lies beneath.
"What we are recording now is 390 tonnes a day which is the sixth-highest level recorded in 20 years so it indicates magma is driving this unrest."
In its sixth week of raised volcanic activity, the temperature of the crater lake Te Wai ā-moe is currently over 39C.
The plume above Mount Ruapehu in recent days has spewed 1 kilometre into the air.
GNS Science said there is unlikely to be a big blow, and any initial eruption is likely to be small and localised around the crater lake.
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts CEO Jono Dean said it's another challenge after a rough couple of years but tremors trigger advanced warning systems and skiers needn't be concerned.
"The majority of our facilities for the winter season are well outside the 2km exclusion zone in place for volcanic alert level 2 so we're pretty confident that should it stay at volcanic alert level 2, there's no reason why wouldn't be able to keep operating."
