East Coast Region

East Island, East Cape. Map: Z14; Classification: C3. Significance: One of largest islands off the East Coast. Important as being the easternmost point of New Zealand, with the exception of the Chatham Islands.

Gable End Foreland. Map: Z17; Classification: C3. Significance: An unusually shaped, large resistant slab of sandstone forming a prominent bluff.

Gisborne gas seep. Map: Y18; Classification: C1. Significance: Most accessible and constant example of a natural gas seep on North Island east coast.

Hicks Bay limestone/basalt contact. Map: Z14; Classification: C3. Significance: Well exposed unconformable sedimentary contact of early Miocene shallow water limestone on Matakaoa Volcanics.

Hole in the Wall, Tolaga Bay. Map: Z17; Classification: C3. Significance: A narrow coastal cliffed ridge, cut by an impressive sea arch. Very distinct and unusual for this region, it is a good example of a sea arch forming by the sea cutting its way through a narrow passage. Historically significant as Cook's landing place.

Kirk's Clearing Upper Cretaceous breccia. Map: X16; Classification: C3. Significance: Channelised debris flow associated with a Late Cretaceous growing fold. Type section of Kirk's Breccia Member, Whangai Formation.

Koranga Ridge Cretaceous fossil locality. Map: X17; Classification: B3. Significance: Holostratotype of Korangan Stage in New Zealand.

Koranga River, early Cretaceous sediments. Map: X17; Classification: B3. Significance: Important section for early Cretaceous sequence. Type section locality of Te Wera Sandstone.

Lottin Point melange. Map: Y14; Classification: C3. Significance: Good example of melange.

Mangaehu Stream mud volcano, Gisborne. Map: Y17; Classification: C2. Significance: Site of two major historic mud eruptions in 1908 and 1930. Large mud mound with gentle gas and mud seepage on top at other times.

Mangaotane Stream Cretaceous section, north Gisborne. Map: X16; Classification: B3. Significance: Type section of Raukumara Series, important reference section for the Cretaceous sedimentary sequences of the North Island, presence of red and green "volcanogenic" beds. Holostratotype of Raukumara Series stages in New Zealand.

Mangapoi Stream volcanics. Map: Y15; Classification: C3. Significance: Well exposed sequence of Rip Volcanics.

Mangapoike cuestas. Map: X18; Classification: B3. Significance: One of few examples of cuestas in the North Island. There are at least three distinct cuestas.

Mangatu River earth flow. Map: X16; Classification: C2. Significance: A fast moving, large and well documented earthflow.

Mata Link Road earth flow. Map: Y16; Classification: C3. Significance: A very large extremely active earthflow on easy slopes. One of the best and most accessible in East Cape.

Mata River clastic sequence. Map: Y15; Classification: B3. Significance: Excellent exposure of Cretaceous clastic sequence.

Matakaoa Point marine terraces and shore platform. Map: Z14; Classification: C3. Significance: A sequence of at least three well preserved marine terraces in association with an impressive shore platform.

Maungahaumi nappes. Map: X17; Classification: C3. Significance: Most easily visualised and historically earliest recognised thrust slices of the East Coast Allochthon on Raukumara Peninsula.

Mawhai Point razorback isthmus, Tokomaru Bay. Map: Z16; Classification: C3. Significance: Razorback ridge connecting small promontory to mainland. Unusual for this coastline.

Motu Falls Cretaceous section, Raukumara Range. Map: X16; Classification: B3. Significance: Excellent exposure of part of the Clarence Series stratotype; shell beds present. Holostratotype of Clarence Series stages in New Zealand.

Mt Hikurangi klippe. Map: Y15; Classification: B3. Significance: Mt Hikurangi is the highest nonvolcanic mountain in the North Island, towering over the surrounding deeply dissected countryside. It is a good example of a structural klippe.

Muddy Creek Miocene section, Poverty Bay. Map: Y16; Classification: B3. Significance: Parastratotype of Lillburnian and Waiauan Stages in New Zealand.

Muriwai Lagoon and spit, Poverty Bay. Map: Y18; Classification: C2. Significance: Longest lagoon and spit on the East Coast north of Mahia Peninsula

Ormond Pleistocene plant beds. Map: Y17; Classification: B3. Significance: Type locality of several species, very well-preserved material.

Oweka Creek Pliocene macrofossils, Cape Runaway. Map: Y14; Classification: C3. Significance: The only Opoitian macrofauna in this region.

Pakarae River uplifted and faulted Holocene marine benches. Map: Y17; Classification: B3. Significance: A sequence of seven Holocene terraces formed by episodic uplift related to earthquake activity. Important due to the completeness of the sequence - one of the most complete in the country.

Potikirua Point Volcanics. Map: Y14; Classification: C3. Significance: Interbedded volcanics and microfossiliferous Early Eocene sediments.

Pourewa Island blowholes, caves and arches, Tolaga Bay. Map: Z17; Classification: C2. Significance: Largest island off the East Coast north of Mahia Peninsula. Includes spectacular sea arches, caves and a large blowhole cut through sandstone. All are unusual features along this rapidly eroding coastline. Separated from the mainland by a 200 m-wide, steep-sided channelway – historically significant as Endeavour’s mooring site for Cook’s landing in 1789.

Raukumara uplifted "peneplain". Map: Y16; Classification: C3. Significance: A high flat surface forms the crest of the Raukumara Range.

Tapuaeroa River backtilted terraces. Map: Z15; Classification: C3. Significance: Rapid (<1500 years) backtilting of river terraces due to Hikurangi margin subduction or growth of bentonitic diapirs. Has been linked with major marine terrace height discontinuity near East Cape and suggests major active thrust.

Tapuaeroa Valley peaks. Map: Y15; Classification: C3. Significance: Three spectacular peaks of erosion-resistant, indurated, Cretaceous sandstone surrounded by subdued hill country formed of more easily-eroded Cretaceous sedimentary rocks.

Tarndale and Mangatu slips. Map: X16; Classification: B3. Significance: Very active gullied earth flows surrounded by exotic forestation - some of the most highly active in the North Island.

Tatapouri shore platform. Map: Y18; Classification: C3. Significance: A wide planar shore platform formed due to rapid coastal erosion and retreat of sea cliffs.

Tauwhareparae plateau. Map: Y16; Classification: B3. Significance: An extensive low relief surface or tableland in contrast to deeply dissected eroding surrounding country.

Te Araroa beach ridges. Map: Z14; Classification: C3. Significance: One of the best examples of beach ridges on the East Coast.

Te Araroa Upper Miocene section. Map: Z14; Classification: B3. Significance: One of best exposed and most easily accessed sequences of upper Miocene sedimentary rocks in East Coast region. Continuous sequence with diverse warm water fauna and rich trace fossil assemblage.

Te Kiwikiwi pillow lava. Map: Z14; Classification: C3. Significance: Best evidence for Eocene volcanism in East Cape.

Te Puia Hot Springs. Map: Z16; Classification: C2. Significance:

Te Puia Springs earthflow and mud volcanoes. Map: Z16; Classification: C3. Significance: A very large deep seated earthflow affecting most of Te Puia Springs township. Associated with thermal springs and mud volcanoes.

Te Rata Stream, Cretaceous sediments. Map: X16; Classification: B3. Significance: Reference section of Whangai Formation.

Tikihore Stream breccia. Map: Y16; Classification: C2. Significance: Best known example of East Coast Volcanics, Raukumura Peninsula.

Tiniroto landslide: Map X18; Classification: C3. Significance: Extraordinary topography of hummocky landscape, lakes and wetlands dammed by landslide debris.

Tolaga Bay northern shore platform. Map: Y17; Classification: C3. Significance: Spectacular shore platform and cross-cutting joint sets at the base of rapidly eroding cliffs. One of the most impressive and easily accessible shore platforms along the East Coast north of Mahia Peninsula.

Tolaga Bay old hat islet. Map: Y17; Classification: C3. Significance: Rare example of an old hat island on the East Coast. Spectacular brim shore platform of intersecting strata and joint sets.

Tutamoe Plateau. Map: Y16; Classification: C3. Significance: An excellent example of a synclinal remnant of resistant sandstone forming a plateau.

Waiapu River delta. Map: Z15; Classification: C3. Significance: Rapidly accreting river mouth with barrier forming.

Waikaremoana landslide. Map: W18; Classification: C3. Significance: Landslide responsible for damming the Waikaretaheke River and forming Lake Waikaremoana. unusual caves and shelters beneath large blocks.

Waimata mud volcanoes. Map: Y17; Classification: B2. Significance: Saline mud and gas seep and bubble out of a number of low conical mounds of mud. One of the best and most accessible East Cape examples.

Waiorongomai Gully. Map: Y15; Classification: B3. Significance: Extremely large scale and deep seated gullying in argillite, extremely active. A spectacular example, one of the best in New Zealand.

Waipaoa River braid channel. Map: Y16; Classification: B3. Significance: A rapidly aggrading river channel with material infilling the valley 20-30 m deep. Important because of extremely high aggradation rate of about 30 mmyear.

Waitangi oil shaft and oil seeps. Map: Y17; Classification: B3. Significance: One of the best preserved and earliest hand dug shafts in NZ.

Young Nicks Head, Poverty Bay. Map: Y18; Classification: C3. Significance: One of the most famous headlands in New Zealand, being the first sighting of New Zealand by Captain Cook in 1769. One of the most prominent headlands on the East Coast north of Mahia Peninsula.