Volcanology is a small field in New Zealand, and does not employ a large number of people. Job opportunities are normally limited. 

Turnover among volcanologists is also low as the role is highly specialised. Employment is often created as staff move on to accept other positions in New Zealand or overseas.

A major influence on the number of people employed in this occupation is the amount of funding available for research from government through the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FoRST) and EQC (Earthquake Commission).  

Increased research funding from the government or EQC grants can create more work for volcanologists in New Zealand. In the last few years, the GeoNet project, which is mainly funded by the EQC and GNS Science, has increased the opportunities for people wanting to work in volcanology and geology in New Zealand.

Volcanologists can work for a wide variety of organisations including:

• Crown Research Institutes (the main one for volcanology and geology is GNS Science)
• universities and schools
• local authorities (such as regional councils)
• natural hazard management and research centres
• consultancies and private companies.

New Zealand has a high density of active, dormant and extinct volcanoes, meaning volcanologists can travel around the country to monitor seismic and volcanic activity.

New Zealand volcanologists work mainly for GNS Science, which has three head offices – in Lower Hutt, Wairakei and Dunedin.

The geology departments of the Auckland, Victoria, Canterbury and Otago universities also monitor seismic patterns and collaborate in volcanology study with GNS Science.

Hazard management teams are set up through the regional councils throughout New Zealand as well, so that teams can operate volcanic-seismic networks in their own regions. The main volcanic centres in New Zealand, where a lot of field work and research is conducted, are:

• Raoul Island
• White Island
• Okataina volcanic centre
• Rotorua volcanic centre
• Taupo volcanic centre
• Tongariro volcanic centre
• Taranaki volcanic centre
• Auckland volcanic centre.

In 2001, GNS Science set up GeoNet,  a project to modernise the seismic monitoring equipment in New Zealand. 

This collaboration is still a work in progress with the aim of producing state-of-the-art equipment that can monitor, predict, research and provide timely information for any natural disasters that occur in New Zealand.

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) increased its funding of the project in 2005 and this has provided volcanologists specialising in hazard management increased opportunities for research in this field.