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Story: Rock, limestone and clay

Limestone, Punakaiki

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Limestone, Punakaiki

The Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki on the South Island’s West Coast are composed of limestone. They formed around 35 million years ago into distinctive flat layers that resemble pancakes. Punakaiki is a scenic reserve and is not quarried, but extensive deposits of limestone occur on this northern stretch of the West Coast. At Cape Foulwind, further north, a quarry supplies a large cement works.

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GNS Science

Reference: CN04010/12

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

Carl Walrond, Rock, limestone and clay – Limestone, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5223/limestone-punakaiki (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 2 March 2009.