Marine terraces at Cape Terawhiti and Tounge Point, Wellington

Abstract

Abstract The Cook Strait coastline of the North Island from Cape Terawhiti to Tongue Point is mapped on a morphological basis and analysed. It is shown that, contrary to indications from earlier work, the lower marine terrace between these locations is not continuous, and the correlation of the 125 It (38 m) and 250 ft (76 m) terraces at Cape Terawhiti. with the 240 ft (73 m) and 480 ft (146 m) terraces at Tongue Point is not supported. Attention is drawn to remnants of higher terrace surfaces inland between Oteranga Bay and Ohau Bay at c. 400 ft (12:2 m) and c. 450 ft (137 m). It is concluded that there is no evidence on this coastline for a westward tilt of the magnitude previously inferred, and that it is necessary to recognise distinct levels at 125 ft (38 m ) , 150 ft (46 m), 240-250 ft (73-76 m), c. 400 ft (122 m), and c. 480 ft (146 m).