Story: Nelson places

Maruia Falls

Maruia Falls

The Murchison earthquake of 1929 created the Maruia Falls by triggering a landslide which diverted the course of the Maruia River westwards, forcing it to cut a new channel over an old river bank. The river eroded gravels below the bank, forming the Maruia Falls. Immediately after the earthquake, the falls were only about a metre high, but after a year, the drop was 5 metres. In the early 2000s it was 10 metres, as shown here.

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How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Nelson places - Upper Buller River valley', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/29087/maruia-falls (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, updated 22 Apr 2015