Story: Marlborough region

Rangitoto argillite

Rangitoto ki te Tonga (D’Urville Island) was a centre for making argillite adzes (cutting tools), which have been found around the North and South islands. Argillite is a metamorphosed sandstone highly suitable for chipping. It is found on the island and in the neighbouring mainland ranges, but nowhere else in New Zealand.

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How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Marlborough region – Early Māori history, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/31748/rangitoto-argillite (accessed 14 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 9 May 2011, updated 1 November 2016.

Comments

Ruihana Lewis Tony Smith
08 July 2024

Kia ora, Argillite is found throughout Aotearoa in different locations, but the argillite mentioned is unique to the top of the south island as Metasomatized argillite, it is a metamorphosed Mudstone. Mauri ora