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Story: Fossils

Fossil stumps (2nd of 2)

Fossil stumps

At the mouth of the Kaiwhata River, on the eastern Wairarapa coastline, a fossil forest is preserved as stumps being eroded by waves. These stumps were a forest around 8,000 years ago until rising sea levels drowned them. The land has since been uplifted, revealing the drowned forest. Other fossil forests can be found at Curio Bay in Southland, Titahi Bay near Wellington, and Takapuna on Auckland’s North Shore.

About this item

Private collection
Photograph by Jock Phillips

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How to cite this page:

Hamish Campbell. 'Fossils', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 24-Sep-11
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/fossils/5/1/2