The Kermadec Islands / k ə r ˈ mæd ɛ k / ( Māori : Rangitāhua ) are a subtropical island arc in the South Pacific Ocean 800 – 1 , 000 km ( 500 – 620 mi ) northeast of New Zealand ' s North Island , and a similar distance southwest of Tonga . The islands are part of New Zealand , 33 . 6 km 2 ( 13 . 0 sq mi ) in total area and uninhabited , except for the permanently manned Raoul Island Station , the northernmost outpost of New Zealand . The islands are listed with the New Zealand Outlying Islands . The islands are an immediate part of New Zealand , but not part of any region or district , but instead an Area Outside Territorial Authority . Raoul Island StationThe Station consists of a government meteorological and radio station , and a hostel for Department of Conservation officers and volunteers , that has been maintained since 1937 . It lies on the northern terraces of Raoul Island , at an elevation of about 50 m ( 160 ft ) , above the cliffs of Fleetwood Bluff . It is the northernmost inhabited outpost of New Zealand . Kermadec Ocean SanctuaryIn September 2016 , the NZ government confirmed that it will progress the Kermadec / Rangitāhua Ocean Sanctuary in face of opposition from the fishing industry for protection of this ecologically - important area . Protecting sub - tropical paradiseAfter eight years of campaigning by WWF , partners , and thousands of New Zealanders , in March 2016 , the New Zealand government introduced a Bill to Parliament to set up a Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Situated 1000 km north of Auckland , New Zealand ’ s sub tropical Kermadec Islands and deep ocean trench are teeming with an incredible array of plant and animal life – much of which is found nowhere else on the planet , yet faces future threats . The proposed KOS , would be major conservation success – as the largest no take marine reserve in the world , surrounding the Kermadec Islands out to 200 nautical miles . The 620 , 000 square km KOS would contain the world ’ s longest chain of submerged volcanoes and the second deepest ocean trench with a depth of 10 km . Department of Conservation hostel , Raoul Island , 2009 The Department of Conservation hostel on the north side of Raoul Island is the only place on the Kermadec Islands normally occupied by humans . Underwater volcanoesExploring Kermadec Arc Undersea Volcanoeswww . youtube . com / watch ? v = TDL 7 iZhUY 8 Q Submarine Volcanoes The Kermadec Arc , extending 1220 km to the northeast of New Zealand , consists of at least 30 volcanic centres . In this 2011 video from GNS Science , scientist Cornel De Ronde talks about the work the organisation does to map the seafloor near the Kermadec Islands , exploring underwater volcanoes and hydrothermal vents , and shows some of the results of their work . Pōhutukawa and nīkau Typical lowland forest on Raoul Island is predominantly a mixture of Kermadec nīkau palms ( Rhopalostylis baueri var . cheesemanii ) and the red - flowering Kermadec pōhutukawa ( Metrosideros kermadecensis ) . Department of Conservation on Raoul Island The Kermadec Islands are about 800 - 1000 km northeast of the North Island . They can only be accessed with a permit from Customs and the Department of Conservation ( DOC ) . They are uninhabited apart from Raoul Island Station , where there is a meteorological station and a hostel for DOC workers and volunteers . The Kermadec Islands are uninhabited bar a government station on Raoul Island .