The Pukekohe East Explosion Crater erupted an estimated 680,000 years ago.

[1] It is one of the best preserved volcanoes in the South Auckland volcanic field,[2] and one of the few well-preserved basalt craters in New Zealand.

[3] The crater is approximately one kilometre in diameter, and is found on privately owned land.

[2] The church was used as a military stockade during the Invasion of the Waikato, most notably during the Defence of Pukekohe East, when a Māori taua (war party) of approximately 200 men from Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Pou iwi attacked the church in September 1863.

[2] The Geoscience Society of New Zealand scheduled the crater as a nationally important feature.