Volcanic Activity in NZ - Éanna Burke

Volcanic Activity in NZ

The main cause for the recent volcanic activity in New Zealand is primarily due to the country’s position on the border of the Indo-Australian and Pacific Plates, which is a part of the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, which is also why most of the volcanic activity is in the northern side of New Zealand. 

You can find examples of most kinds of volcanism When you look at New Zealand's Rock and the land's volcanism dates back 60-130 million years ago which was before the microcontinent Zealandia rifted away from Gondwana.

In New Zealand there are minor eruptions every few years, with the most recent ones in the 21st century  being 2019, 2 in 2015, 2013 and 2006. There were 22 deaths in 2019 and each of the other ones had 1 death each per eruption. There are currently 9 active volcanoes ranging with elevations from 137 metres to 2796 metres.