Southland Syncline

[2] The Murihiku Terrane is formed predominantly from Permian to Jurassic sedimentary rocks with minor igneous intrusions, and is marked by prominent strike ridges particularly on its northern limb due to the steeper dip.

[4] The northern edge of this fold system is marked by the Murihiku Escarpment, at the southern extreme of the Waimea Plains.

The ridges run northwest from the Pacific coast in the Catlins to the Takitimu Range, and includes the Hokonui Hills,[6] which rise above the otherwise flat land of the Southland Plains (to the south) and Waimea Plains (to the north).

The syncline dates from the Cretaceous,[7] though the Hokonui Hills are caused by more recent uplift.

[8] The same fold is found as far north as the Auckland Region where it is called the Kaimango Syncline.

The parallel strike ridges of The Catlins , which form part of the syncline, can clearly be seen running from northwest to southeast in the upper part of this image.