Late Holocene Sedimentation on the Southern Kāpiti Coast Thesis
- Author
- Nolan, R.M.
- Year
- 2017
- Journal / Source
- Unpublished MSc in Geology
- Publisher / Organisation
- Victoria University of Wellington
- Pages
- 168
- Keywords
- Holocene, Kāpiti, sedimentation
- Summary
- A thesis submitted to Victoria University of Wellington in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geology, School of Geography, Environment and Earth Science, Victoria University of Wellington The Kāpiti Coast is a broad low lying coastal plain on the western coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The coastal plain has formed over the last 6500 years through rapid progradation of coastal sediment, developing a distinct cuspate foreland. With numerous coastal communities across the low coastal plain, recent coastal erosion of the southern coastal plain combined with forecast sea level rise has drawn attention to coastal hazards. However, understanding these hazards has been hampered by a lack of information on the Holocene tectonic and sedimentary development of the coastal plain. This study focuses on the southern portion of the Kāpiti Coast using a geological approach to document coastal outcrops and drillcores. Using detailed sedimentological analysis including description, grainsize, composition and shape, in addition to observation of the modern environment, a detailed facies scheme and depositional model for the southern Kāpiti Coast are produced.