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Diatreme sequences have previously been described from drill holes within the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The newly discovered Te Hukui Basalt exhibits deep excavation of country rocks that do not appear elsewhere at the surface. The basalt is characterized by proximal deposition of pyroclastic deposits relating to phreatomagmatism. The geochemical composition classifies these rocks as high-alumina basalts. They erupted along the Orakeikorako Fault at the same location where rhyolitic activity of Puketerata occurred at a later point in time. The petrological characteristics of the basalts indicate the mixing of mafic melt with crystalline mush relating to more evolved magmas. The new basaltic occurrence supports frequent mafic recharge of shallow magma reservoirs, inducing basaltic eruptions, in this case the mafic magma intruding into highly crystallized mush zones. This may explain why basaltic eruptions mostly …