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Story: Fossils

Paleozoic rocks

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Paleozoic rocks

Paleozoic fossils date from 542 to 251 million years ago. Most Paleozoic rocks occur in the northern and southern South Island and in inland South Canterbury. The only Paleozoic macrofossils in the North Island are found in Permian rocks in Northland. (This map shows all Paleozoic rocks in New Zealand, not all of which contain fossils.)

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: GNS Science

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How to cite this page

Hamish Campbell, Fossils – Oldest fossils – Paleozoic, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/map/9024/paleozoic-rocks (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Hamish Campbell, published 2 March 2009.