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Auckland Branch
Who Are We?
Contacts:
Branch Rep: Dan Hikuroa - d.hikuroa_at_auckland.ac.nz
GeoClub: Bruce Hayward - b.hayward_at_geomarine.org.nz or Hugh Grenfell - h.grenfell_at_geomarine.org.nz
What is "GeoClub'?
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Established in 1992 at Auckland Museum the GeoClub is now part of the Auckland Branch of the Geoscience Society of New Zealand at Auckland University. The Club is a mix of enthusiastic amateurs and professionals who share a common interest in the study and understanding of Aucklandís geology and fossils and has a membership of approximately 100.
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No previous knowledge or understanding of geology is required to become a member, although most of our members started by taking an adult education course or a geology paper at University. The main requirement is an enthusiasm to understand something about the long history of the earth and our region.
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Recent Club field trips have included visits to Hokianga, East Cape, Rotorua, Port Waikato, Waihi Gold Mine, Puketotara Peninsula, Kawau Island, the Miranda coast, Piha, Browns Island, Pollen Island, Whangaparoa, the Hillsborough coast, Queens Street building stones, Takapuna fossil forest to mention a few. 
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Geology is a hobby that families and people of all ages can enjoy. It gets you out into the open air and is a great way to exercise. It takes you to fascinating places you have never visited before and above all you will start seeing the landscape with new eyes. No longer will you just see sheep grazing on hills. You will start to see the lava flows, the fault lines, the folded strata that control the shape of the hills, ancient river terraces and coastal plains.
What do we do?
What's On?
NEXT MEETINGS & FIELD TRIPS
Over 100 turned out for the Hochstetter Lecture at the Museum in July where Prof Joel Baker treated us to the application of multimillion dollar geochemical equipment to understanding the origins of the solar system, large volcanic eruptions and palaeoclimate. As the Newsletter compilers will be overseas before the September meeting, there will be NO September Newsletter - but do come along to the September meeting as advertised below.
Some 1:250,000 maps will still be available for sale at August meeting. Geocene 6 needs contributions. Email Helen Holzer heleneh@xtra.co.nz (get acknowledgement). Numbers 1-5 can be downloaded from www.gsnz.org.nz/information/auckland-i-46.html#mag
NEXT MEETINGS: Epsom Community Centre, 200 Gillies Ave, Epsom. Door opens at 7.15 PM for 7.30 PM start
- MONDAY 9th AUGUST, 7.30 PM. "Auckland's climate over the last 50,000 yrs" by Tom Stevens (PhD student) and "Molecular proxies for Auckland's palaeoclimate" by Dan Aitkin (PhD student). Talking about their studies on sediment cores from Auckland's volcanic craters.
- MONDAY 13th SEPTEMBER, 7.30 PM "Turbidites and megaturbidites in Tunisia and Auckland" by Chrissie Fildes (PhD student)
NEXT FIELD TRIPS: - SUNDAY 8th AUGUST Explore Ambury Farm Park lava flow field and caves. Leader Bruce Hayward. Roam the farmed fields and coastline examining some of the interesting lava flow structures, small caves and overhangs. We plan to enter two larger caves (easy access). Low tide at 2.50 PM. Meet at Ambury Regional Farm Park carpark at 10 AM. Bring some lunch, a torch and appropriate clothing and footwear. If weather is unfriendly phone Bruce (523 1667) at 9.00 AM for possible postponement. Rating: Relatively easy flat walking on grassy fields and tracks, one of the two lava caves may be slightly more difficult to access.
- SUNDAY 19th SEPTEMBER Little Huia-Destruction Gully coast. Leader Bruce Hayward. Clamber among the boulders and along the slippery intertidal rocks to see a part of the Piha Conglomerate in the Waitakere Ranges seldom visited. Meet at Little Huia boat ramp at 11 AM. Low tide 1 PM. If weather is unfriendly phone Bruce (523 1667) at 9.30 AM for possible postponement. Rating: Quite difficult, only for those who are surefooted and have good balance.
- LONG WEEKEND TRIP, THURSDAY night 2nd - MONDAY 6th DECEMBER Whangarei. Leader Bruce Hayward. Explore the geology of the Whangarei region - basalt, andesite, dacite, rhyolite volcanoes; Cret-Oligocene Northland Allochthon, Eocene-Miocene in-situ sequence. Rating: Moderately easy, occasional longer walk or slightly harder portion. Car pool. We have booked out the Central Court Motel ($35 per head/night) from Thurs night through Sun night. The actual field trip starts at 8AM Friday 3rd at the motel, 54 Otaika Rd, main road into Whangarei. We will return to Auckland by 6 PM Monday 6th. Suggested literature, Geology of the Whangarei area, 1:250,000, 2010. To book please send a cheque (to Auckland GeoClub) for $140 per person (= all accommodation cost) to Helen Holzer, 4A Kawau Rd, One Tree Hill; please include your names and whether you want to provide or require car pooling.
When & Where?
CLUB NIGHTS are on the SECOND MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, except January, 7.30 PM, at the Epsom Community Centre, 200 Gillies Ave, Epsom, Auckland. NEW MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO JOIN US
ANY ENQUIRIES: Ring Hugh Grenfell, during day, ph: 578 1491,
email h.grenfell_at_geomarine.org.nz
GEOCENE MAGAZINE
Geocene is a periodic publication of GeoClub, a section of the Auckland branch of the Geoscience Society of New Zealand.
Contributions about the geology of New Zealand (particularly northern New Zealand) from members are welcome. Please note articles are not refereed.
Please email the Editor, Helen Holzer - heleneh_at_xtra.co.nz (substitute @ for _at_).
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