Beetham, R.D. 1983 Seismicity and landsliding with especial attention to New Zealand. Lower Hutt: New Zealand Geological Survey. New Zealand Geological Survey report EG 378 157 p.
Abstract: Tectonic uplift and faulting in New Zealand is the result of oblique collision between the Indian and Pacific plates. A review of plate tectonics and geological evidence now available suggests that dextral horizontal movement has occurred at a substantially uniform rate of about 40mm per year over the last 25 million years, while vertical uplift has taken place more recently probably over the last 5 million years, or less, at a maximum rate of 20mm per year. Large earthquakes typically trigger many earth failures. In mountainous areas landslides are a hazard to be considered in regional development, both from the point of their primary destructive energy, and secondary effects that lead to accelerated erosion rates, flooding and siltation. Large historic earthquakes in New Zealand have caused widespread damage and disruption, landsliding, and regional uplift of large areas. A large, well preserved landslide that occurred at Waikaremoana in prehistoric times has been investigated from available information and a detailed analysis of its kinemetics made for the first time. This shows that it is most extraordinary when compared to other described landslides. It exhibits both rockslide avalanche and blockglide features that occurred, almost synchronously, along a bedding plane and at a dip of only 6o. Geological mapping in New Zealand Tertiary rocks, especially those close to Waikaremoana, suggests that bedding plane failures are a common cause of large landslides and form a hazard to future development.
