If Lake Taupo blows, its the end of NZ as we know it...

[C_T_Russell]

Might not be anything that happens in any of our lifetimes, but its sure to happen some day.
It is some cause for concern about geonet raising its alert level, something thats never happened before.
Although Taupo has experienced higher activity in the past, its the first time they have raised its alert level.

I wonder how many people even know its a volcano, or at least a dormant volcano and not an extinct volcano?
Its even generating media attention overseas.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacif...022-09-20/

If it were to blow, we could look back at its last eruption which was considered fairly minor and that was enough to cover much of the north island in a metre or more of ash, I would like to think we would have plenty of warning should that happen, but its quite scary to imagine what would happen should this ever occur.
It would be a much more serious disaster if it happened in the future with a much more populated NZ than today with a population of 5 million or so.
Much of the north island would be uninhabitable for some time, but the south island would probably fare better, evacuations would be immense. I could see many heading over to Australia.

Yes Taupo is not rated as one of the top super volcanos for nothing.  2nd only to Yellowstone I believe and much more active several large eruptions in the last 26000 years compared to YS 650000 years ago.
Even an eruption like the one at Hatepe 1800 years ago would devastate much on the North Island, destroy the power infrastructure and the dams on the Waikato.  Ash would spread as far as Australia.    Being a "wet" eruption large amounts of pumice would be thrown out along with the ash.

Yup, most definitely.
Taupo is indeed much more active than Yellowstone, that also kind of tells me that Yellowstone is well overdue for an eruption also.
I think Taupo has erupted on and off every 2000 years or so in recent times.
The water course of the waikato river has changed with the past eruptions, we definitely would loose much of our power generation in the north island thats for sure.