page_title: Volcanism of New Zealand
section_title: Auckland volcanic field
hierarchical_section_title: Volcanism of New Zealand / Volcanic areas / Auckland volcanic field
caption_attribution_description: Rangitoto Island forms a backdrop to the wave-cut platform off Achilles Point, Auckland.
context_page_description: The volcanism of New Zealand has been responsible for many of the country's geographical features, especially in the North Island and the country's outlying islands.
  While the land's volcanism dates back to before the Zealandia microcontinent rifted away from Gondwana 60–130 million years ago, activity continues today with minor eruptions occurring every few years. This recent activity is primarily due to the country's position on the boundary between the Indo-Australian and Pacific Plates, a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, and particularly the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Indo-Australian Plate.
  New Zealand's rocks record examples of almost every kind of volcanism observed on Earth, including some of the world's largest eruptions in geologically recent times.
  None of the South Island's volcanoes are active.
context_section_description: The basaltic Auckland volcanic field is a monogenetic volcanic field underlying much of the Auckland metropolitan area. The field's many vents have produced a diverse array of explosion craters, scoria cones, and lava flows. The largest and most recent is Rangitoto, which erupted in the Hauraki Gulf 600–700 years ago. Currently dormant, the field is likely to erupt again within the next "hundreds to thousands of years" (based on past events), a very short timeframe in geologic terms. Despite this, Auckland's residents face more danger from volcanoes farther south.
  Auckland's volcanoes are believed to be the latest product of an unusual hot spot.
caption: Rangitoto Island, a gently sloping shield volcano, is an iconic landmark of Auckland.
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