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Auckland Branch
Who Are We?
Contacts:
Branch Rep: Lorna Strachan - l.strachan_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 Auckland's 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?
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Monthly meetings at the Epsom Community Centre, 200 Gillies Ave with lectures and slide shows. Parking is available (see below ) with easy access from the motorway. Books and pamphlets on New Zealand geology available at wholesale prices. Expert assistance available to help identify your problem rocks, minerals or fossils.
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Frequent field trips of half or full day duration in the weekends throughout the year. Car-pooling is encouraged. Periodic long weekend field trips to interesting geology further from Auckland, with costs kept low with budget accommodation.
What's On?
NEXT MEETINGS & FIELD TRIPS
The November meeting had a large audience to hear Julie Rowlands talk about the plate tectonic and structural controls on the shift from Coromandel to TVZ volcanism. 28 members came along to see for themselves the evidence for the newly recognised volcanoes in Auckland on a Sunday in November. Later in the month 24 members toured the geology and other natural and historic highlights of Marlborough for 5 days. Many thanks to organizer Helen Holzer, drivers Hugh, Garry, Peter S, Warren and Murray, leader Bruce, and money taker Christine.
Geocene 6 is out now. Geocene 7 needs your contribution. Email Helen Holzer heleneh@xtra.co.nz (get an acknowledgement). Numbers 1-6 can be downloaded below.
NEXT MEETINGS:
- TUESDAY 20th DEC, 7.30 PM: Members evening, your chance to give a 5-10 min presentation on something geological or bring a rock or fossils to talk about. Data projector and laptop available. Preceded by a short AGM.
- TUESDAY 21st FEB, 7.30 PM: "Mineralisation in Chile" by Dr Jeff Mauk, University of Auckland.
NEXT FIELD TRIPS:
- Xmas BBQ SOUTH PIHA. SUN 11th DEC. Meet at carpark between campground and estuary, near walking bridge over estuary for walk at 4 PM, followed by BBQ and games. Bring your own food, meat and games - BBQ and referee supplied. Low tide 5 PM. Rating: BBQ easy; walk moderately easy - maybe a scramble around a few intertidal rocks. If weather threatening, ring Bruce Hayward (523 1667) at 2 PM Sunday for possible postponement.
- TI POINT. SUN 22nd JAN. Leader Bruce Hayward. Come explore more of Ti Point, Leigh, look for karst basalt boulders, examine evidence for rapid uplift and erosion of the Waitematas in the middle Miocene. Car pool from Bunnings Warehouse carpark, Home Place, off Constellation Drive, just off N Motorway at 9 AM. Meet at Ti Point wharf, at 10.30 AM. Low tide 1 PM. Degree of difficulty - moderately easy - some intertidal rock walking. Bring lunch, suntan cream etc. If weather threatening, ring Bruce Hayward (523 1667) at 7.30 AM Sunday for possible postponement.
- LEIGH MARINE LAB, SAT 11th FEB. Organiser Margaret Morley and Auckland Shell Club.Meet at Goat Island Bay on the beach at 12 PM for picnic lunch with others. 1 PM visit to Leigh Marine Lab Visitor Centre for guided tour and explanation of the marine research being done by students.Entry costs $10, we hope for a discount. RSVP with numbers for the visitor centre to Margaret (09)576 8323 by Feb 8th or mmorley@aucklandmuseum.com. No cancellation.
When & Where?
CLUB NIGHTS are on the THIRD TUESDAY 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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