The North Island Volcanic Plateau covers much of central North Island with volcanoes , lava plateaus , and crater lakes . The three highest volcanoes are Mount Ruapehu ( ) , Mount Taranaki ( ) and Mount Ngauruhoe ( ) . Ruapehu 's major eruptions have historically been about 50 years apart , in 1895 , 1945 and 1995 – 1996 . The 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera , located near Rotorua , was New Zealand 's largest and deadliest eruption in the last 200 years , killing over 100 people . Another long chain of mountains runs through the North Island , from Wellington to East Cape . The ranges include Tararua and Kaimanawa
1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera
1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera
Geography of New Zealand