Andesite volcanoes of the North Island of New Zealand are divided on the basis of their potash contents into two groups; a low potash group which includes the Northland, Coromandel, and Taupo Volcanic Zone andesites, and a high potash group which contains the volcanoes of western Taranaki. There are no significant differences among the chemistries of the low potash andesites from the different regions, leading to the proposition that they have a similar origin. It is suggested that an andesite “source zone” developed in the upper mantle beneath the old arcuate structure during Miocene time and has propagated eastwards across the North Island. The high potash andesites appear to be associated with events beneath the old arcuate structure rather than with the active margin of the east coast of the North Island. The chemistries of the New Zealand andesites are compared with analyses from other active regions and the invariance of the soda content is contrasted with the large potash variation.