Regional Analysis of the Aupouri Aquifer
Abstract
The Aupouri aquifer is located in the far north of New Zealand’s North Island, on the peninsula of land adjacent to Ninety Mile Beach, and between Kaitaia and the top of the Houhora Harbour. Significant landuse change has occurred on the Aupouri Peninsula since the late 1960’s with the planting of the Aupouri Forest (Pinus radiata) and more recently conversion of pasture and scrub to intensive horticultural blocks (mainly Avocado).
The Aupouri aquifer system is interesting from a hydrogeological perspective in that the recharge/discharge dynamics alternate across the peninsula, switching from unconfined to confined conditions (from west to east), as a result of topographic and lithological changes.