Image left:
Looking north-east across Lake Hawea towards Corner Peak (1661 m/5449'). This far south the rock is schist rather than greywacke, but the ranges stretch north-east directly to the axial part of the Southern Alps, along the Hunter River which flows in the head of Lake Hawea. Photo NC.
On right: Mt Ngaruhoe. Photo courtesy Ruapehu Tourism.

New Zealand presents a high density of active volcanoes, and a high frequency of volcanic eruptions.

Volcanism has been present throughout much of New Zealand's geological history, and has contributed strongly to the evolution of its landscape. Read more about New Zealand's volcanic fields and landforms.

Geothermal activity is also present throughout New Zealand, often, but not only, closely related to recent and active volcanoes.

Plate tectonics and the motion of the Autralian and Pacific plates are the direct causes of volcanism in New Zealand: read more.