title: Coastal evolution of the Rangitāiki Plains, Bay of Plenty, Aotearoa-New Zealand

authors: Rackham, Bailey

subjects: Rangitaiki Plains

abstract: The Rangitāiki Plains is a tectonically active alluvial plain in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Throughout the mid-late Holocene (8 ka to present), the Rangitāiki Plains have undergone substantial geomorphological change, with the coastline prograding approximately 10 km over the past 6.5 ka, leaving relic shoreline features known as beach ridges. Previous studies of the Rangitāiki Plains have utilised tephrochronology and radiocarbon dating to determine the ages of several palaeoshorelines. These dates provided minimum ages for beach ridges and resulted in aging constraints; furthermore, limited textural and geochemical characterisation of beach ridges has hampered understanding of sediment provenance and reworking changes. Addressing these research gaps is important as this knowledge is especially relevant in coastal management, modern climate change, and increasing anthropogenic impacts on the coastline.  

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating on the Rangitāiki Plains produced older beach ridge ages than those derived via tephrochronology. OSL dating also showed that beach ridge ages coincided with volcanic eruption events. The OSL progradation rates extend to much older time frames than those based on tephrochronology, starting at 7.6 ka rather than 5.5 ka. New data concludes a prominent progradation peak up to 43.03 m yr⁻¹ between 5.202±0.368 ka and 5.187±0.447 ka, around the time of the Whakatāne eruption. By 4 ka, progradation had slowed to only 1.14 m yr⁻¹, suggesting that longshore drift occurred earlier than previously calculated (2 ka), or that progradation slowed before longshore drift commenced. XRF and XRD analysis of sediments from Rangitāiki Plains confirms that beach ridge sediments comprise of intermediate igneous sediments that have been tephra fingerprinted to the Taupō Volcanic Zone.

text: Coastal evolution of the Rangitāiki Plains, Bay of Plenty, Aotearoa-New Zealand The Rangitāiki Plains is a tectonically active alluvial plain in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Throughout the mid-late Holocene (8 ka to present), the Rangitāiki Plains have undergone substantial geomorphological change, with the coastline prograding approximately 10 km over the past 6.5 ka, leaving relic shoreline features known as beach ridges. Previous studies of the Rangitāiki Plains have utilised tephrochronology and radiocarbon dating to determine the ages of several palaeoshorelines. These dates provided minimum ages for beach ridges and resulted in aging constraints; furthermore, limited textural and geochemical characterisation of beach ridges has hampered understanding of sediment provenance and reworking changes. Addressing these research gaps is important as this knowledge is especially relevant in coastal management, modern climate change, and increasing anthropogenic impacts on the coastline.  

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating on the Rangitāiki Plains produced older beach ridge ages than those derived via tephrochronology. OSL dating also showed that beach ridge ages coincided with volcanic eruption events. The OSL progradation rates extend to much older time frames than those based on tephrochronology, starting at 7.6 ka rather than 5.5 ka. New data concludes a prominent progradation peak up to 43.03 m yr⁻¹ between 5.202±0.368 ka and 5.187±0.447 ka, around the time of the Whakatāne eruption. By 4 ka, progradation had slowed to only 1.14 m yr⁻¹, suggesting that longshore drift occurred earlier than previously calculated (2 ka), or that progradation slowed before longshore drift commenced. XRF and XRD analysis of sediments from Rangitāiki Plains confirms that beach ridge sediments comprise of intermediate igneous sediments that have been tephra fingerprinted to the Taupō Volcanic Zone.

year: 2025

title: Melanesia burning: Religious revolution in the Western Pacific

authors: Macdonald, Fraser

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: In the history of Pacific Christianity, the explosion of revival activity within Melanesia during the 1970s remains an untold story. Within this regional spiritual upheaval, ecstatic Pentecostalist phenomena spread with unprecedented rapidity, intensity and geographical scope. As a result of these movements, Christianity assumed an importance in Melanesia in a way it never had before, as local congregations redefined their church life and spirituality over and against mission Christianity. This article documents a major branch of this regional revivalism. A detailed description of this series of interconnected movements transitions to an explanation of their success in terms of four factors: the mutual ramification of the revivals with political independence movements; the fact that despite being built on theologies of world breaking, the revivals dovetailed with traditional Melanesian religious experiences; the existence of interdenominational organisations that expedited the movement of people, practices and ideas across local, regional and national frontiers; and, finally, the personal dimensions of Melanesian revivalism, whereby the genesis, uptake and diffusion of revival movements often depended crucially upon the persuasive capabilities of influential Christian leaders in each society.

text: Melanesia burning: Religious revolution in the Western Pacific In the history of Pacific Christianity, the explosion of revival activity within Melanesia during the 1970s remains an untold story. Within this regional spiritual upheaval, ecstatic Pentecostalist phenomena spread with unprecedented rapidity, intensity and geographical scope. As a result of these movements, Christianity assumed an importance in Melanesia in a way it never had before, as local congregations redefined their church life and spirituality over and against mission Christianity. This article documents a major branch of this regional revivalism. A detailed description of this series of interconnected movements transitions to an explanation of their success in terms of four factors: the mutual ramification of the revivals with political independence movements; the fact that despite being built on theologies of world breaking, the revivals dovetailed with traditional Melanesian religious experiences; the existence of interdenominational organisations that expedited the movement of people, practices and ideas across local, regional and national frontiers; and, finally, the personal dimensions of Melanesian revivalism, whereby the genesis, uptake and diffusion of revival movements often depended crucially upon the persuasive capabilities of influential Christian leaders in each society.

year: 2019-12-01

title: Ta moko: Maori tattoo

authors: Te Awekotuku, Ngahuia

subjects: Maori

abstract: The author examines the history, technique and meaning of ta moko (Maori tattoo) from prehistory to modern times.

text: Ta moko: Maori tattoo The author examines the history, technique and meaning of ta moko (Maori tattoo) from prehistory to modern times.

year: 1997