New Zealand has a lot in common geologically with Japan and the Philippines. This geologically dynamic country has rolling green hills and young volcanoes on the North Island and major faults, earthquake risk, and alpine mountains on the South Island. Chains of volcanoes cross the North Island and continue on for thousands of miles into the Pacific, through the Kermadec Islands, Tonga, and Samoa. Cultural links are as strong as geological links within New Zealand’s diverse population. The Maori people in New Zealand arrived there from Polynesia perhaps a thousand years ago and may have witnessed the latest eruption in the Auckland volcanic field.

There are many dangerous neighbors on the North Island, but most are located in remote areas with nearby small towns. Several of the most recently active (Tongariro erupted in 2012 and Ruapehu in 2007) are within a national park. A long line of large, young volcanoes, including calderas, makes up the Taupo volcanic zone, which continues off the northern shore into the Pacific Ocean. The Taupo volcanic zone volcanoes are certainly threatening neighbors, but they also have proven to be beneficial sites for the geothermal energy plants that generate 20% of the electricity for the North Island.