Duk da yake ƙasar ta volcanism kwanakin baya to kafin Zealandia microcontinent rifted daga Gondwana 60-130 shekaru miliyan da suka wuce, aiki ci gaba a yau tare da qananan eruptions faruwa a kowace 'yan shekaru. Wannan aikin na baya-bayan nan ya samo asali ne saboda matsayin ƙasar a kan iyaka tsakanin Indo-Ostiraliya da faranti -Pacific, wani ɓangare na Wutar Wutar Pacific, musamman murƙushe Plate Plate a ƙarƙashin Tekun Indo-Australiya. Dutsen New Zealand ya yi rikodin misalai na kusan kowane irin dutsen mai fitad da wuta da aka gani a Duniya, gami da wasu manyan fashewar abubuwa a duniya a lokutan ƙasa.irin dutsen mai fitad da wuta da aka gani a Duniya, gami da wasu manyan fashewar abubuwa a duniya a lokutan ƙasa. New Zealand ta kasance wurin fashewar abubuwa masu fashewa da yawa a cikin shekaru miliyan biyu da suka gabata, gami da yawancin girman dutsen. Waɗannan sun haɗa da fashewa daga Tsibirin Macauley da Taupo, Whakamaru, Mangakino, Reporoa, Rotorua, da Haroharo calderas. Abubuwa biyu na baya-bayan nan da suka fito daga dutsen dutsen Taupo wataƙila sune mafi sani.