Geology

Waiohine Faulted Terraces

The Waiohine Faulted Terraces are one of the most famous geological features in New Zealand, marking the movement of the West Wairarapa fault over the last 35,000 years.

They are partially protected in a scientific reserve on the southeast margin of the park, 1 km to the south of the point where the Waiohine Gorge Road turns sharply northwest into the range.

With each major movement of the fault (associated with an earthquake) the land to the west has been both uplifted and displaced to the north-west (relative to the plains side of the faultline). After each movement, the river has developed a new set of terraces—which are then off-set by the next major earthquake. Over the last 15,000 years the average lateral displacement has been about 0.8 metres per 100 years.