Story: Soil investigation
Soils on the Volcanic Plateau lack the trace element cobalt – a deficiency that causes disease in farm animals. The region is where two major eruptions, Taupō (about 200 AD) and Kaharoa (about 1314 AD), deposited layers of cobalt-deficient, soil-forming ash.
Using this item
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
How to cite this page
P. J. Tonkin, Soil investigation – Early investigations and bush sickness: 1900–1930, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/map/14188/cobalt-deficient-areas (accessed 17 February 2026).
Story by P. J. Tonkin, published 1 March 2009.