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Story: Active faults

Trench across the Ōhariu Fault

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Trench across the Ōhariu Fault

Offset of the ground surface will indicate the location of an active fault, but detailed three-dimensional information can only be obtained by digging a trench. Geologist Russ van Dissen is shown recording the geology across the Ōhariu Fault, in the Wellington region.

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GNS Science

Reference: CN16937/39

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

Eileen McSaveney, Active faults – What is an active fault?, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4348/trench-across-the-ohariu-fault (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 2 March 2009.