New Plymouth

Geological Summary

New Plymouth is founded on mid Quaternary andesite-derived laharic and debris deposits lapped by Late Quaternary marine sand and gravel sediments and dunes near the coast.

Maps and Information

There are no geological mapping projects underway or imminent in the New Plymouth area. Previously completed maps include:

2008/2018: QMAP 1:250 000 geological map

For wider and more generalised geological context of the New Plymouth area, a 1:250 000 geological map was printed with accompanying explanatory text. Digital GIS and image versions of the map are available on DVD. The digital version has since been updated in a national GIS dataset at that nominal scale. The underlying GIS datasets have rich feature attributes.

• Townsend, D.; Vonk, A.; Kamp, P.J.J. (compilers) 2008. Geology of the Taranaki area(external link). Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences 1:250 000 geological map 7. Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Limited.  77 p. + 1 sheet.
• Heron, D.W. (custodian) 2018. Geological Map of New Zealand 1:250 000(external link). GNS Science geological map 1 (2nd edition). Lower Hutt, New Zealand. GNS Science.

A geological map image can be downloaded(external link) or interrogated through the geological map application(external link). For GIS users, the QMAP geological feature layers can be downloaded from GNS Science’s Web Map/Feature Service(external link).

1979: 1:50 000 geological map of western Taranaki including New Plymouth

Neall, V.E. 1979. Geological map of New Zealand 1:50,000 Sheets P19, P20, & P21 New Plymouth, Egmont, and Manaia(external link). 1st ed. Lower Hutt: New Zealand Geological Survey. Geological map of New Zealand 1:50,000 P19, P20, P21. 3 folded maps + 1 booklet.