Metis Shoal

The shoal was named by the captain of HMS Metis in 1875, who found a small volcanic island protruding from the ocean.

[4] The new island was named "Lateiki" ("lies besides Late")[1] and claimed by Tonga in a flag-raising ceremony,[5] but soon eroded beneath the sea surface.

On 7 December 2006 the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) flew over Metis Shoal and Home Reef at the request of volcanologists from the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences (IGNS) to take photos of Metis Shoal.

[6] This eruption was first reported by Tongan vessel MV Ngutulei on the morning of 14 October 2019 and continued for more than two weeks.

Photos were later taken by aircraft from Real Tonga and Air New Zealand, which showed that Metis Shoal had completely sunk.