Coastline of New Zealand

New Zealand has 15,000 kilometres (9,300 mi) of coastline making it the 9th longest in the world.

Coastal development, such as buildings and marine farms, has become contentious in recent decades.

As well as sheltered sandy beaches there are rugged, remote and cliff lined sections typified by the Fiordland area.

Ironsand gives the beaches on west coast of the North Island a black colouration.

[1] Coastal fortifications were built around the New Zealand coast line in two separate times: in 1885 during the "Russian scare" and during World War II as a defence against the perceived threat of a Japanese invasion.