Auckland Volcanic Field

The Auckland volcanic field is a monogenetic volcanic field on the North Island of New Zealand. Basaltic in nature, it underlies much of the metropolitan area of Auckland.

The field began its volcanic life cycle between 60000 and 140000 years ago, as the first vents erupted out of the ocean. Since then, each eruptive vent has become active only once at random times. The most recent eruption was at Rangitoto, an island shield volcano just east of the city of Auckland, erupting 2.3 cubic kilometres of lava only centuries ago.

Several of the volcanic cones were occupied by substantial Maori pa before European settlement, and many terraces and other archeological remnants are still visible today.

Local councils have made submissions to the New Zealand government that the volcanic field's unique natural and cultural features justify its inclusion in New Zealand's tentative list of World Heritage Site candidates. (Only 23 of more than 700 World Heritage Sites worldwide are in this "mixed" category.)

External links

• NZ Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Auckland Volcano page
• Auckland Regional Council – The Volcanoes of Auckland
• NZ Herald opinion column on World Heritage listing