In 2017, GNS scientists confirmed New Zealand is not just a country of islands, but in fact one of the highest points of the world’s eighth and smallest continent, now called Te-Riu-a-Maui Zealandia. 

This achievement was made through decades of geological and geophysical research on land and offshore. By bringing together data from mapping, seismic surveys, rock samples, gravity data, and plate‑tectonic modelling, the team demonstrated that Zealandia meets all the criteria of a continent. 

The discovery changed how continents are defined. Until then, continents were assumed to be large, mostly dry landmasses. Zealandia showed that continental crust can be stretched, thinned, and largely submerged while still remaining a continent.  

The team discovered Zealandia separated from Gondwana 100 and 60 million years ago, marked both by a 4000km long ancient granite backbone, and by a giant underwater volcanic region that ignited during the separation. This volcanic region covers an area of 250,000 km2 underwater, about the size of New Zealand itself. 

All this evidence filled a major gap in the global understanding of how continents interact, break apart, and evolve. 

Recognising Zealandia has also changed how earth science is done in New Zealand, which can now be understood within a single continental framework. Since, this understanding has improved our hazard models, resource assessments, and marine governance. 

And even though it was the last continent to be discovered, the team achieved a world-first in 2023, Zealandia became the first ever continent to be fully mapped to its edges.