The Wellington Fault is an active seismic fault in the southern part of the North Island of New Zealand. It is a dextral (right-lateral) strike-slip fault with variable amounts of vertical movement causing uplift to the northwest, as expressed by a series of ranges. It forms part of the North Island Fault System, which accommodates the transfer of displacement along the oblique convergent boundary between the Indo-Australian Plate and Pacific Plate.
The Wellington Fault runs under California Drive in Totara Park, Upper Hutt. The road has been built extra wide with a central median to keep houses back from the fault line.
Wellington Harbour, officially called Wellington Harbour / Port Nicholson, is a large natural harbour on the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island. The harbour entrance is from Cook Strait. Central Wellington is located on parts of the western and southern sides of the harbour, and the suburban area of Lower Hutt is to the north and east.
Looking north-east over Wellington Harbour from above Cook Strait Left to right: Lambton Harbour, Miramar Peninsula and the harbour entrance
Lambton Harbour, Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand, ca. 1840
Ferry MV Kaitaki in the Harbour
HMS Indefatigable, 1945