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Story: Landscapes – overview

Murihiku rocks

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Murihiku rocks

Eastern Southland lies on Murihiku rocks – muddy sandstone, gravel and volcanic ash, deposited 150–250 million years ago. Originally horizontal, these rocks have been tilted and folded by tectonic movements. Erosion has exposed harder bands, mainly compacted gravel, which extend for tens of kilometres.

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GNS Science

Reference: CN43841/16

by Lloyd Homer

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How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney, Landscapes – overview – Southland and Stewart Island, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13058/murihiku-rocks (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 1 March 2009, updated 1 July 2015.