Evolution of the southern termination of the Taupo Rift, New Zealand

Abstract

To understand the tectonic evolution of the southern termination of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ), New Zealand, we compare the late Quaternary structure and kinematics of the southern part of the Taupo Rift or Taupo Fault Belt (Mt Ruapehu Graben) with central parts of the rift (Ngakuru Graben), and with the South Wanganui Basin. We also investigate the differences between displacements of Pliocene and late Quaternary markers within the southern Taupo Rift. Comparison of fault displacement rates derived from displacements of late Quaternary and Pliocene markers yields a preliminary estimate of <400 000 yr for fault initiation of the majority of faults in the southern Taupo Rift. The timing of the onset of faulting in the southern TVZ appears to be younger than central parts of the TVZ and may indicate a step‐wise southward propagation of the rift. Faulting also appears to be less evolved in the south than in the central parts of the Taupo Rift (thicker seismogenic crust and hence wider fault spacing), reinforcing the impression of a recent incremental propagation of the Taupo Rift to the south. The onset of faulting coincides with independent observations of the initiation of volcanism in the southern TVZ. We propose that the termination of the TVZ, geographically short of the limit of the Hikurangi margin, may only be temporary, and it is most likely to propagate southward in association with future major perturbations in the subduction margin, such as the occurrence of large ignimbrite volcanism.