DEtermining VOlcanic Risk in Auckland-DEVORA

05/12/2025

At last week’s Geoscience Society of New Zealand conference held right here in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, DEVORA researchers were out in force! 🔍🌋

Contributing to a wide range of sessions and discussions, researchers and collaborators shared new insights into the Auckland Volcanic Field. Talks covered everything from investigating hazards and impacts to utilising geophysics to explore below the surface, and the big questions we’re still working to answer. 🧐 We were also very proud to highlight some of the mahi carried out within DEVORA over the past seventeen years! 🤝✨

🚤 To wrap up the fantastic week, DEVORA also led a post-conference field trip out to Rangitoto Island, joined by guest speakers Kate Lewis and Madi Daly (Auckland Council) and Angela Doherty (Auckland Emergency Management).

🥾⛰️ Despite a wet start that put the trip in question, the bad weather quickly cleared, revealing a perfect day to hike up and explore Rangitoto’s lava fields, enjoy sweeping summit views, and venture into Auckland’s only publicly accessible lava caves. Throughout the day, participants gained an overview of the volcanism, magmatism, heritage, hazards, and risks associated with the potentially active Auckland Volcanic Field, and how Rangitoto continues to challenge our understanding of future eruptions.

A huge thanks to everyone who presented, attended, supported, and joined us on the field trip. What an inspiring week of geoscience kōrero and collaboration! 👏

28/11/2025

Please join us in welcoming Aisling Kerr to the DEVORA team! 🎉

Aisling is joining us as Deputy Outreach Coordinator, stepping in to support current coordinator Annahlise while she finishes her PhD. 👩‍🔬

Aisling holds a Bachelor’s in Earth Science and Geography from the University of Auckland and recently completed her Master’s project with DEVORA, exploring fire following volcanic activity in the Auckland Volcanic Field. As a lifelong volcano fan, Aisling brings fantastic energy and expertise to the team and is excited to get even more involved in DEVORA’s work. 🔥🌋

24/11/2025

20/11/2025

19/11/2025

Got weekend plans? Why not join us at - Festival of Earth Science!

📍 Fickling Convention Centre, Three Kings
📅 Saturday 22 November, 9am - 3pm
🎟️ Free entry!

Come explore the science and technology used to study our dynamic planet. With hands-on interactive exhibits and live demonstrations (including DEVORA’s famous Coke Volcano), there’s something for everyone, so bring the whole whānau! 👩🏽‍🔬🌋

If you want to dive deeper, EarthFest also has you covered with public talks:
🔹9am: Discover Auckland’s Geoheritage
🔹10am: Auckland Volcanic Field, eruptions past… and future!
🔹11am: Under Auckland: Exploring Lava Caves
🔹12pm: Get to know your natural hazards
🔹1pm: Earth Science Career Showcase
🔹2pm: Fossil Treasures of Northern New Zealand

🚶🏽‍➡️Additionally, be sure not to miss Earthfest's Guided Walks (Sat 22 & Sun 23 November):
🔸 3:15pm Saturday: take a tour of Three Kings Volcano
🔸 9am Sunday: Otuataua Stone Fields Historic Reserve
🔸 10:30am Sunday: Te Pane o Mataoho - Māngere Mountain
🔸 10:30am Sunday: Domain & Grafton Volcanoes
🔸 2:30pm Sunday: Eastern Beach Turbidites
🔸 3pm Sunday: Campbells Bay
🔸 3:30pm Sunday: Takapuna Fossil Forest
🔸 Sunday (time TBC): Inside A Lava Cave

Find full details on the EarthFest website: https://earthfest.nz/

07/11/2025

Last week, the 18th annual DEVORA Forum (DEVORUM) took place, bringing together researchers both virtually and in-person to share their latest insights into the Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF). 🌋

Presentations covered everything from exploring Auckland’s subsurface structure to understanding potential eruption hazards and impacts such as ash fall, fire, and base surges, through to legal preparedness for a future AVF eruption. Recordings of these talks will be available soon, but in the meantime, catch a sneak peek in the photos below! 📸

The second day featured a hands-on workshop led by Prof Jan Lindsay (UoA), Dr Angela Doherty (AEM), Dr Danielle Charlton and Dr Mary Anne Clive (ESNZ), focused on addressing uncertainty in AVF for unrest response planning. The workshop sparked plenty of lively discussion and collaboration, with participants mapping out key information, data products, and needs across the different stages of potential AVF activity. 🤝💬

A huge thanks to everyone who attended, especially our first-time presenters, and to our funders, Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake and Council, for making this event possible every year. 👏

31/10/2025

Our very own DEVORA PhD student and research assistant, Meegan Soulsby, is featured in the latest researcher profile by the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake!🌋👏

Have a read below to learn more about Meegan’s research and aspirations 👇
https://www.naturalhazards.govt.nz/news/mapping-the-earth-under-aucklands-volcanoes/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNxEeJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE2SzgxQkJsYUV5ckRUWERjAR5yPUeTanVzDgDdCvEpuYONP4G-V7kCT_AL6HTCAxJMjwVK2eRPGeqS0o2E2w_aem_tFvW9-xl1Tfy6p1UVKoAvg

Auckland sits on an active volcanic field that’s erupted more than 50 times in the past 200,000 years - and while another eruption isn’t likely in our lifetimes, scientists are working hard to better understand what’s happening underground.

As part of the DEtermining VOlcanic Risk in Auckland-DEVORA (DEtermining VOlcanic Risk in Auckland) programme, University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau PhD candidate Meegan Soulsby is using seismic data and AI tools to build a 3D model of Auckland’s subsurface.

Her goal is to help predict how future volcanic activity might unfold and support planning to keep communities safe.

“It’s comforting to know that experts across science, emergency management, council, iwi and industry are working together to prepare for future volcanic activity,” Meegan says.

Read more about Meegan’s research in the comments below 👇🏻

19/10/2025

Rarotonga – A Maunga Lost to Time ⛰️

Once an impressive 87-metre-high scoria cone and fortified pā, Rarotonga stood proudly on Auckland’s volcanic landscape. Over the years, quarrying removed much of the Maunga — and today, only a small remnant remains.

The site where this mighty volcanic cone once stood is now home to Go Media Stadium (Previously Mt Smart Stadium), a place of energy and community that carries the memory of the land beneath it.

As we cheer for our teams and gather for concerts, it’s worth remembering the ancient history beneath our feet — and the stories of the Maunga that shaped Tāmaki Makaurau.

17/10/2025

Discover the story behind the stunning artwork at City Rail Link’s new Maungawhau Station! 🌋

🎨 Artist Tessa Harris has created an art installation for the foyer walls of the new station, using basalt and red glass to weave together the volcanic geology of Tāmaki Makaurau and Maungawhau (Mt Eden), ancestral whakapapa, and modern design.

Learn more about the inspiration and cultural significance of her work during a special site visit with her whānau 👇

“Having visibility of Māori art in our city is important. Ten years ago it wasn’t obvious. It couldn’t be seen. I can see Māori live here now.”

13/10/2025

Kiwi kids can now 'visit' one of the most geologically active areas in NZ 🌋

We've teamed up with Tātai Aho Rau Core Education/LEARNZ to launch a virtual field trip to the Bay of Plenty - where tamariki across NZ can explore the natural wonders from the comfort of their classroom.

"The Bay of Plenty region is shaped by fault lines, volcanoes and floods that continue to shift the landscape,” says NHC Public Education Manager Hamish Armstong.

Students will get to travel to sites affected by disasters, meet experts, hear real stories, and learn how natural disasters affect people and infrastructure.

Start exploring: https://www.learnz.org.nz/hazards254

This trip was made with the generous support of experts from Earth Sciences New Zealand and Bay of Plenty Civil Defence.

10/10/2025

🌋

You likely know of the iconic Rangitoto Volcano, but have you heard of its smaller cousin across the water?

Little Rangitoto, also known as Maungarahiri, was once a 70-metre-high scoria cone that erupted around 24,500 years ago in the central Auckland Volcanic Field. Though it sits close to the Ōrākei Basin Volcano, it actually erupted tens of thousands of years later! 🔥🗓️

The Māori name Maungarahiri means ‘Hill of the sun’s rays’, while the name Little Rangitoto was likely given by early Europeans who noticed its resemblance in profile to the larger Rangitoto Island. 🏝️

Click through the photos below to learn a little more about Little Rangitoto:
📸1: Little Rangitoto and its mighty namesake.
📸2: Lava flows of Little Rangitoto.
📸3: Then vs now.
📸4: Quarrying and reshaping of Little Rangitoto.

Don’t forget to check out DEVORA’s website (https://www.devora.org.nz/) and Instagram (.org.nz), and see you again next week for more insights into Auckland’s volcanoes.

03/10/2025

Got plans this weekend? Come join the DEVORA team THIS SUNDAY at our Auckland Heritage Festival event: Volcano Fest – Explore Auckland's Fiery Past and Future!🌋

Ever picked up a rock and wondered what it was? Curious about the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, what it means to live on a volcanic field, or why some volcanoes ooze lava while others erupt with explosive force?

Come along for:
🔥 Volcano experiments - watch both oozing and explosive eruptions.
🪨 A showcase of fascinating rocks and minerals from the Auckland Volcanic Field.
👩‍🔬 Meet the experts - chat with University of Auckland volcano scientists and geologists, and get your burning questions answered.

Perfect for families, kids, and kids-at-heart. Don’t miss it!

📅 Sunday 5th October
🕙 10am – 3pm
📍 University of Auckland, Central City Campus, inside Commerce A Building 114 (look for the red doors!). See here for a map of the location: https://maps.auckland.ac.nz/auckland/fa64ffa351cb4fe680fa2929/details/08395296da07481e8982045d

Full event details here 👇
https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events/2025/10/volcano-fest-explore-auckland-s-fiery-past-and-future/?source=/heritage-festival/heritage-festival-events/

Have a chat with volcano scientists and geologists from the University of Auckland, ask any questions you have about volcanoes, earthquakes, rocks, and the natural world around us.