Story: Active faults

The Edgecumbe Fault (1st of 2)

The Edgecumbe Fault

During the Bay of Plenty earthquake of 2 March 1987, a 7-kilometre-long rift appeared across the Rangitāiki Plains – this is the Edgecumbe Fault. The fault had moved previously, rupturing the ground surface, although this was not recognised before the quake. The white patches in the lower part of the photograph are spots where mixtures of water and sand, liquefied by the ground movement, spurted up to the surface under pressure.

Using this item

GNS Science
Reference: CN09977/10
Photograph by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, 'Active faults - What is an active fault?', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4349/the-edgecumbe-fault (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 1 Aug 2017