A Geodetic Study of the Otago Fault System of the South Island of New Zealand

The Otago Fault System in the southern South Island of New Zealand is an area dominated by actively growing asymmetric anticlines above buried reverse faults. Geological studies indicate that the average total shortening rate across the system is 2–3 mm/year. This region was the subject of several early geodetic studies based on terrestrial techniques, which reported high (0.5 ppm/year) strain rates that are difficult to reconcile with geological estimates of fault slip rates.