Story: Deep-sea creatures

New Zealand’s submerged continent

New Zealand’s submerged continent

The continent of New Zealand is partially submerged. This map shows the continental shelf, plateau and slopes (beige), the sometimes steep shelf edges (pale yellow-green), the surrounding oceanic basins (blue – 4,000 metres and deeper) and the narrow deep trenches (purple – down to over 8,000 metres, or as deep as Mt Everest is high). Near Kaikōura, the deep Hikurangi Trench comes in close to the coast. The Challenger Plateau (west of New Zealand) ranges from 500 to 1,000 metres deep.

Using this item

GNS Science

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

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Paddy Ryan, 'Deep-sea creatures - Exploration of the deep', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/map/5240/new-zealands-submerged-continent (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Paddy Ryan, published 12 Jun 2006