Adrift in the South Pacific Ocean, separated from the rest of the world by vast distances and blessed with some of the most varied and spectacular natural landscapes on Earth, New Zealand is rather special. Generations of geoscientists have developed an increasing understanding of what makes New Zealand geologically unique and why. Highlights of this research, including many discoveries of global significance, are presented in this book. A Continent on the Move explains what makes New Zealand tick geologically, and illustrates the ways that geoscience research can make this country a better place in which to live. This book will be a stimulating addition to any coffee table and an asset in schools and universities. It will also enable politicians, planners, and developers to make more informed decisions regarding appropriate land use, beneficial utilisation of resources, and protection against geological hazards, through a better understanding of the dynamic environment we live in.

Accolades

Winner of Montana New Zealand Book Awards: Environment Category 2009.

Author Biography

Dr Ian Graham (Chief Editor) is a widely published geoscientist with an enthusiasm for communicating his science. As a geochemist and geochronologist, Dr Graham has been involved in wideranging research that has touched on subjects as diverse as volcanology, sedimentology, metamorphism, climate change, basement geology, concrete manufacture, geothermal energy, mineral resources, rainfall patterns, and cosmic rays. Ian is currently a Principal Scientist with GNS Science at Lower Hutt, and manages the Mineral Resources programme.