Stefan Keller / Reuters

A massive plume of ash billows up into the sky as Mount Tongariro erupts in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand on November 21, 2012. The volcano previously erupted in August this year, the first time in more than a century.

The Associated Press reports — A New Zealand volcano erupted with a brief blast of dark ash Wednesday, canceling flights but causing no significant damage. Schoolchildren and dozens of other hikers who were walking on trails along the mountain's base were safe.

The eruption of Mount Tongariro, its second in less than four months, sent a dark ash plume about 1.9 miles into the sky. Authorities issued a no-fly alert above the mountain located in the sparsely populated area of central North Island.

Tongariro National Park, which has three active volcanoes, was the backdrop for many scenes in "The Lord of the Rings" movies. Read the full story.

Follow @NBCNewsPictures

•Sign up for the NBCNews.com Photos Newsletter

Maritime New Zealand via Reuters

The bow section of the stricken container ship Rena remains above water about 14 nautical miles from Tauranga on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island on April 4, 2012.

The stern of a broken-up ship that caused New Zealand's biggest sea pollution disaster sank on Wednesday after waves of up to 12 meters pounded the wreck, according to officials from Maritime New Zealand. 

The bow of the ship remains above water six months after it ran aground on a reef and three months after the Rena split in two.

The sinking of the stern section is likely to result in the loss of more debris and a light sheen of oil had already been seen surrounding the wreck, Maritime New Zealand said after conducting an overflight.

See more pictures of the Rena disaster on PhotoBlog.

Maritime New Zealand via EPA

The sinking stern of the Rena on April 4, 2012. The Rena ran aground on October 5, 2011, with 70 of the 1368 containers that were on board washing up on shore.

Maritime New Zealand via AFP - Getty Images

The Rena is pounded by high seas on April 4, 2012.

Follow @msnbc_pictures

Maritime New Zealand via Getty Images

MV Rena is seen in two pieces after overnight bad weather pounded the vessel, on Jan. 9, 2012 in Tauranga, New Zealand. The ship, which struck Astrolabe Reef off the coast of Mt Maunganui on Oct. 5, 2011, split in two over the weekend.

Marty Melville / AFP - Getty Images

A team of oil-spill and wildlife specialists has been mobilised as oil again began flowing from the Rena, after it broke in two in a storm over the weekend.

Marty Melville / AFP - Getty Images

Marty Melville / AFP - Getty Images

A security guard walks on a beach where shipping containers and bags of milk powder, seen here, were washed ashore on Jan. 9, 2012.

The Associated Press reports from WELLINGTON, New Zealand: 

A light sheen of oil extended about two miles from a wrecked cargo ship that split in two over the weekend, but so far the damage appears small compared to the environmental disaster created when the vessel ran aground in October, New Zealand authorities said Monday.

Waihi Police Sgt. Dave Litton said police closed public access to popular Waihi Beach on Monday morning after four cargo containers and other debris from the vessel washed ashore. He said police received calls about people driving off with some of the bags of milk powder that are strewn along the beach.

Authorities say the milk and other items washed ashore could be health hazards. Read the full story.

See earlier coverage of the Rena disaster on PhotoBlog.

Natacha Pisarenko / AP

A rescue worker dries a little blue penguin after it swam in a water pool to wash fuel oil from its body at the wildlife facility in Tauranga, New Zealand, on Oct. 14. The penguin was rescued from waters polluted by oil leaking from the container ship Rena, which ran aground on Oct. 5.

Bradley Ambrose / AFP - Getty Images

An oil-coated pair of disgarded gloves lie on grass in Tauranga on Oct. 14.

Read the latest news from Tauranga, where the calmest weather in days has given salvage crews hope they will be able to resume pumping the remaining fuel from the stricken Rena.

See more images of the disaster on PhotoBlog.

The AP reports:

The Liberian-flagged Rena — which ran aground Oct. 5 on the Astrolabe Reef, about 14 miles from Tauranga Harbour on New Zealand's North Island — was showing obvious structural strain from the worsening conditions, with a vertical crack apparent Wednesday on the starboard side of its hull from the deck to the waterline.

About 70 containers have fallen overboard as the 775-foot vessel has moved onto a steeper lean. Read the full story.

Maritime New Zealand via Getty Images

Stranded cargo vessel Rena is seen grounded on the Astrolabe Reef in Tauranga, New Zealand, on October 12.

Bradley Ambrose / AFP - Getty Images

Volunteers help with the clean-up of oil from the grounded container ship on October 12.

Ross Setford / EPA

A crack on the side of the cargo vessel Rena is visible as it remains grounded on the Astrolabe Reef on October 12.

Mike Hutchings / Reuters

Dead seabirds are seen on the shore as thick fuel-oil from the stricken container ship Rena fouls beaches at Papamoa, near Tauranga, on October 12.

Alan Gibson / AP

Shipping containers that have fallen off the container ship Rena are washed up on the shore of Motiti Island on October 12.

Dave Hunt / EPA

Pool chairs are sunk for safety at a hotel in Cairns, north Queensland, Australia on Feb. 2. Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi, now a maximum-force Category Five storm, has increased speed and is due to make landfall on the night of Feb. 2 between Cairns and Innisfail.

Tim Wimborne / Reuters

A hand painted board protects the front window of a cafe in the northern Australian city of Cairns on Feb 2.

Tim Wimborne / Reuters

Local resident Selwyn Hughes sits with his children outside an emergency cyclone shelter after it was declared full and the gate locked in the northern Australian city of Cairns on Feb. 2. Catagory five Cyclone Yasi, expected to be the most powerful storm to cross Australia's heavily populated east coast in generations, is expected to make landfall late on Wednesday night.

Torsten Blackwood / AFP - Getty Images

Christie Nugent brings her beloved 14-year-old dog 'Scruffy' to an emergency evacuation centre as potentially catastrophic cyclone approaches Innisfail on Feb. 2.

One of the most powerful cyclones in Australia's history is bearing down on a string of popular tourist cities lining the Queensland coast.

The first major gusts hit the coast as frightened residents and backpackers scrambled to find safe havens with just hours before Cyclone Yasi delivers its full wrath.

"This is a cyclone of savagery and intensity," Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a news conference. "People are facing some really dreadful hours in front of them."

Full story here.