A top volcanologist is trying to reduce the uncertainty of what might happen here if a supervolcanoe blows its top.

Victoria University's professor Colin Wilson has been awarded the Rutherford Medal for his research.

He said people are far more likely to experience an earthquake or a tsunami than a volcanic eruption.

But he says that doesn't mean we should push the prospect of a super-eruption to one side.

"It's rarer event, the big ones, but the overall results can be quite catastrophic and more difficult to deal with than earthquakes or tsunami."

He's now leading a 8.2-million-dollar study into the risk of a super-eruption here.

Professor Wilson says [told Mike Hosking] evidence of super volcanoes was neglected when he first started looking at them.

"People knew they existed and said, 'oh yes there it is, it's a big lump of pumice and ash spread all over the landscape.'

"I just have this feeling there's stories to be told out of them."

LISTEN ABOVE AS COLIN WILSON SPOKE TO THE MIKE HOSKING BREAKFAST