Report on a reconnaissance survey of the Wanganui river. Taranaki geological survey

An assignment to make a reconnaissance survey of the Wanganui River and such of its tributaries as could readily be traversed between Taumaranui and Pipiriki. The eldest rocks seen were Tertiary sandstones and claystones of the Mahoenui series, which form the banks of the Wanganui River for the first ten miles below Taumaranui. Mokau beds then appear, although inliners of Mahoenui rocks, brought up by faulting, are found as far as the mouth of the Kokakonui stream. The structure generally is simple. Between Taumaranui and Whakahoro the dip is generally less than 10 degrees in the west or northwest direction, below Whakahoro the dip backs to the south and southcast, and the angle is seldom greater than 6 degrees. The Mahoenui series is somewhat broken by faulting but elsewhere the beds are apparently little affected either by folding or faulting. No oil indications were seen in these area.