![Whakaari by LW](/assets/Uploads/Heroes/Web-Heroes-61__FocusFillWyIwLjAwIiwiMC4wMCIsMjg4LDIyMF0.jpg)
Volcano types
![Ruapehu and Tongariro by LW](/assets/Uploads/Heroes/Web-Heroes-63__FocusFillWyIwLjAwIiwiMC4wMCIsNTQzLDQwMF0.jpg)
There are three types of volcanoes in New Zealand, Volcanic Fields, Cone Volcanoes and Caldera Volcanoes.
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Fact Sheets for New Zealand Volcanoes
Volcanic Fields
In volcanic fields, small eruptions occur over a wide geographic area and are spaced over long periods of time (i.e. thousands of years). Each eruption builds a single new volcano, which does not erupt again. Mounts Eden and Wellington are examples from the Auckland Volcanic Field.
![NHR 11 Map of NZ volcanic fields p01 v02](/assets/Our-Science/Subfiles/Natural-Hazards-and-Risks/Subfiles/Volcanoes/NHR-11_Map-of-NZ-volcanic-fields-p01-v02__FocusFillWyIwLjM1IiwiLTAuMjciLDU3NSw0MTJd.jpg)
Cone Volcanoes
Cone volcanoes (also called composite cones or stratovolcanoes) are characterised by a succession of small-moderate eruptions from one location. The products from the successive eruptions over thousands of years build the cones. New Zealand cone volcanoes include volcanoes like Ruapehu, Taranaki/Egmont and Ngauruhoe. They are the most frequently active type.
![Mount Ruapehu eruption 24 September 1995](/assets/Our-Science/Subfiles/Natural-Hazards-and-Risks/Original-Images/3205_Lloyd-Homer_GNS-Science__FocusFillWyItMC4wNiIsIjAuMjUiLDU3NSw0MTJd.jpg)
Caldera Volcanoes
Caldera volcanoes have a history of infrequent but moderate-to-large eruptions. Caldera-forming eruptions create super craters 10-25 km in diameter and deposit cubic kilometres of ash and pumice. Resurgent caldera activity is usually smaller than the caldera forming eruptions. There are 8 caldera volcanoes in the central portion of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, between Rotorua and Taupo. This area is known as Te Ahi Tupua.
![Aerial view of Lake Taupo from the north with volcanoes of the Tongariro National Park in the distance. Taupo township at left.](/assets/Our-Science/Subfiles/Natural-Hazards-and-Risks/Subfiles/Volcanoes/Original-Images/Aerial-view-of-Lake-Taupo-from-the-north-with-volcanoes-of-the-Tongariro-National-Park-in-the-distance__FocusFillWyIwLjAwIiwiMC4wMCIsNTc1LDQxMl0.-Taupo-township-at-left..jpg)
![NHR 12 Three Types of volcano P02 V01](/assets/Uploads/PageElements/NHR-12_Three-Types-of-volcano-P02-V01__ScaleMaxWidthWzYwMF0.jpg)