II.—The Structure and Later Geological History of New Zealand

Abstract

As is well known, the skeleton or oldermass of New Zealand is largely composed of a mass of deformed sedimentary rocks, the precise ages of the members of which are in doubt but do not affect the problem under consideration. The most profound deformation of this vast sedimentary group took place in late Jurassic or early Cretaceous times during what may be termed the “Mesozoic orogenic period”, when probably a great mountain range came into existence.