Muriwai, 17 million years before Gannets flew in from Australia.
17 million years ago these layered volcanic sandstones were forming on the ocean floor. Gannets hadn’t been invented yet.
Stand inside a volcano at Karekare.
The rugged coastline in these parts is stunning.
Volcanic construction and erosional destruction have shaped and reshaped this landscape over millions of years.
The North Island of New Zealand sits on a shaky plate boundary while Auckland is the only city in the world built on an active volcanic field. The twin geological hazards are very real.