Skip to main content

Story: Hauraki–Coromandel region

Hauraki–Coromandel landforms

  • Landforms

    Landforms
  • Vegetation

    Vegetation
  • Place names

    Place names
  • Districts

    Districts
  • Highways

    Highways

Faults, in particular the Hauraki Fault which runs along the west side of the Coromandel Peninsula, have shaped the Hauraki–Coromandel region. The Hauraki Fault has produced both a depression (the Hauraki Plains and the Firth of Thames) and uplifted areas (the Coromandel Peninsula and the ranges to the west of the Hauraki depression). Rocks from volcanic activity between seven and 20 million years ago have overlain the older sedimentary greywacke on the peninsula, while river sediments have built up the Hauraki Plains.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Paul Monin, Hauraki–Coromandel region – Geology and landscape, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/30342/hauraki-coromandel-landforms (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paul Monin, published 13 December 2010, updated 1 April 2016.