🌋VolcanoAtlas

Okataina

New Zealand's Most Explosively Active Rhyolitic Volcano

Elevation

1,111 m

Last Eruption

1981

Type

Lava dome complex / Caldera

Country

New Zealand

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows and surges
  • Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
  • Ash fall and tephra deposits
  • Lahars and debris flows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity45 years agoRecentRecently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Watch
Dormant but monitored. Capable of renewed activity.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All New Zealand Volcanoes
Explore by country
Lava dome complex / Caldera Volcanoes
By volcano type
Bay of Plenty, North Island
Regional volcanoes

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Interesting Facts

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The OVC has produced five VEI 5 eruptions in the past 10,000 years — one of the highest rates of large explosive eruptions for any rhyolitic system on Earth.

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The 1886 Tarawera eruption destroyed the Pink and White Terraces, considered among the greatest natural wonders of the 19th-century world.

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The Waimangu Geyser (1900–1904) was the largest geyser ever recorded, with eruption columns reaching up to 460 m (1,500 ft).

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The Kaharoa tephra layer (~1310 CE) serves as a key chronological marker for the earliest Māori settlement of New Zealand.

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The 1886 eruption was basaltic — unusual for this dominantly rhyolitic system — opening a 17 km fissure across Mount Tarawera.

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At least 108 people were killed in the 1886 eruption, including residents of the Māori villages of Te Wairoa, Moura, and Te Ariki.

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Rotorua, a city of approximately 75,000 people, sits on the western margin of the Okataina caldera.

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The Haroharo caldera formed incrementally between approximately 300,000 and 50,000 years ago through multiple collapse events.

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The OVC's rhyolitic magma is among the most silica-rich and explosive volcanic material on Earth.

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Lake Tarawera, impounded against the caldera margin, lies directly adjacent to the 1886 rift and remains a focus of monitoring for future volcanic unrest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Okataina still active?
Yes, the Okataina Volcanic Centre is classified as active. Its most recent eruption was a hydrothermal event at Waimangu in 1981, and the last major magmatic eruption was the 1886 Mount Tarawera event. The system's hydrothermal areas remain vigorous, and five VEI 5 eruptions in the past 10,000 years demonstrate that the volcanic system is capable of significant future activity. GeoNet monitors the complex continuously.
What happened in the 1886 Tarawera eruption?
On June 10, 1886, a 17 km fissure opened across Mount Tarawera, producing a VEI 5 basaltic explosive eruption. At least 108 people were killed, several Māori villages were buried, and the world-famous Pink and White Terraces — massive siliceous sinter formations on Lake Rotomahana — were completely destroyed. The eruption created the Waimangu thermal valley and fundamentally changed the regional landscape. It remains New Zealand's deadliest volcanic disaster in the colonial era.
What were the Pink and White Terraces?
The Pink and White Terraces (Te Otukapuarangi and Te Tarata in Māori) were enormous siliceous sinter formations on the shores of Lake Rotomahana, created by mineral-rich hot springs depositing silica over thousands of years. They were considered one of the world's greatest natural wonders and attracted tourists from around the globe in the 19th century. The 1886 Tarawera eruption completely destroyed them. Submerged remnants were rediscovered in Lake Rotomahana in 2011.
Could Okataina produce another large eruption?
Yes. The OVC has produced five VEI 5 eruptions in the past 10,000 years, averaging one approximately every 2,000 years — though the intervals are irregular. A future VEI 5 eruption would produce widespread pyroclastic flows, heavy ashfall across the central North Island, and potential lahars. Rotorua and surrounding communities would be severely affected. While no eruption is currently imminent, GNS Science considers the OVC one of New Zealand's highest-priority volcanic hazards.
Can you visit the Okataina volcanic area?
Yes, the Okataina region is one of New Zealand's premier tourist destinations. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley, created by the 1886 eruption, offers guided walks past boiling lakes and steaming craters. The buried village of Te Wairoa is an open-air museum. Lake Tarawera offers boating, fishing, and swimming. The broader Rotorua geothermal area includes Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and numerous hot spring resorts. Mount Tarawera itself can be visited by guided tour.
How far is Okataina from Rotorua?
The western margin of the Okataina caldera lies approximately 15 km east of Rotorua city centre. Lake Tarawera, within the volcanic complex, is about 24 km southeast of Rotorua and is a popular day trip destination. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley is approximately 20 km south of Rotorua. Rotorua (population ~75,000) serves as the main gateway for visiting the OVC's volcanic and geothermal attractions.