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Abstract
In 1994 the QMAP 1:250 000 Geological Map of New Zealand project began with compilation of the Dunedin sheet. Nearly 18 years later, publication of the Hawke's Bay sheet marks the completion of all 21 maps. The adoption of geographic information systems (GIS) software for data capture, data management and map production has not only produced high cartographic quality maps, but also built the attribute-rich, nationally consistent QMAP GIS spatial database. The project cost about NZD $24M, and the results are now being used by government, industry and research organisations across infrastructure, geological hazard, resource and environmental areas. QMAP has added significantly to general knowledge of New Zealand's geological composition and history due to new discoveries and validation of concepts. Notable advances include work on the allochthons of Northland and East Coast; rationalisation of the Taupo Volcanic Zone and East Coast stratigraphic successions; differentiation of the Torlesse basement terranes; clarification of the transition from Otago Schist to Alpine Schist; determining the complex spatial and temporal history of igneous intrusions in Fiordland and Stewart Island; and mapping Quaternary sediments by oxygen isotope stage and depositional processes.
Acknowledgements
Major contributors to QMAP have been the compilers Andrew Allibone, David Barrell, John Begg, Graham Bishop, Kyle Bland, Fred Brook, Roger Cooper, Simon Cox, Steve Edbrooke, Jane Forsyth, Mike Isaac, Mike Johnston, Richard Jongens, Peter Kamp, Julie Lee, Graham Leonard, Colin Mazengarb, Simon Nathan, Mark Rattenbury, Ian Speden, Pat Suggate, Dougal Townsend, Ian Turnbull, Adam Vonk and Colin Wilson, with significant compilation input from Greg Browne, Phil Glassey, Geoff Rait and Mike Rosenberg. Crustal basement work by Nick Mortimer, Andy Tulloch, Hamish Campbell and Chris Adams was an important contribution. Text production, GIS and cartography were provided by Philip Carthew, Greg Drummond, David Heron, Biljana Lukovic, Jeff Lyall, Ben Morrison, Penny Murray and Belinda Smith Lyttle; Lloyd Homer provided many of the photographs. The series editor was Jane Forsyth. New Zealand universities generously allowed access to thesis and other unpublished maps and NIWA supplied offshore data. Many internal and external reviewers improved the maps and books. QMAP was funded through Foundation for Research, Science and Technology contracts (C05303, C05X0003, C05X0401) and, latterly, direct Crown funding to GNS Science. Reviews by John Begg, Steve Edbrooke, Carol Evenchick, Adrian Pittari and Bernhard Spörli resulted in improvements to this paper.