Geological Time (table)
Geological time scale diagrams can be challenging to read. Including the diagram in our first chapter on Geological Time. Below we have provided the same information that is in the time scale diagram but this time in a table format. The table is key word searchable and also allows us to provide the epochs and stages for the Mesozoic and Paleozoic. This information is again based on the New Zealand Timescale produced by GNS Science Te Pū Ao. Note though that epochs and stages from the Cambrian through to the Carboniferous use either international epoch and stage information (Devonian and Silurian) or Australian epoch and stage information (Ordovician and Cambrian). Additional details for the Cambrian have been sourced from Wikipedia.
| Stage | Time when stage began (millions of years ago) | Series | Epoch | Period | Era |
| Haweran | 0.34 | Wanganui | Holocene | Quaternary | Cenozoic |
| Castlecliffian | 1.63 | Pleistocene | Neogene | ||
| Nukumaruan | 2.40 | ||||
| Mangapanian | 3.00 | Plio./Pleistocene | |||
| Waipipian | 3.70 | Pliocene | |||
| Opoitian | 5.33 | ||||
| Kapitean | 7.2 | Taranaki | Miocene | ||
| Tongaporutuan | 11.04 | ||||
| Waiauan | 13.05 | Southland | |||
| Lillburnian | 15.1 | ||||
| Clifdenian | 15.9 | ||||
| Altonian | 18.7 | Pareora | |||
| Otaian | 21.7 | ||||
| Waitakian | 25.2 | Landon | Olig./Miocene | Pal./Neogene | |
| Duntroonian | 27.3 | Oligocene | Paleogene | ||
| Whaingaroan | 34.6 | Eoc./Oligocene | |||
| Runangan | 36.7 | Arnold | Eocene | ||
| Kaiatan | 39.1 | ||||
| Bortonian | 42.6 | ||||
| Porangan | 45.7 | Dannevirke | |||
| Heretaungan | 48.9 | ||||
| Mangaorapan | 52.0 | ||||
| Waipawan | 56.0 | ||||
| Teurian | 66.0 | Paleocene | |||
| Haumurian | 83.6 | Mata | Late | Cretaceous | Mesozoic |
| Piripauan | 86.5 | ||||
| Teratan | 90.5 | Raukumara | |||
| Mangaotanean | 93.7 | ||||
| Mangaotanean | 95.2 | ||||
| Ngaterian | 99.5 | Clarence | |||
| Motuan | 103.3 | Early/Late | |||
| Urutawan | 108.4 | Early | |||
| Korangan | 117.5 | Taitai | |||
| No stages recognised | 145.0 | ||||
| Puaroan | 150.0 | Oteke | Late | Jurassic | |
| Ohauan | 154.5 | Kawhia | |||
| Heterian | 164.3 | Middle/Late | |||
| Temaikan | 176.0 | Early/Middle | |||
| Ururoan | 188.9 | Herangi | Early | ||
| Aratauran | 201.3 | ||||
| Otapirian | 208.5 | Balfour | Late | Triassic | |
| Warepan | 217.0 | ||||
| Otamitan | 221.0 | ||||
| Otamitan | 227.5 | ||||
| Kaihikuan | 238.0 | Gore | Middle/Late | ||
| Etalian | 246.0 | Middle | |||
| Malakovian | 249.0 | Early/Middle | |||
| Nelsonian | 251.5 | Early | |||
| Makarewan | 253.2 | D’Urville | Late | Permian | Paleozoic |
| Waiitian | 254.2 | ||||
| Puruhauan | 259.8 | ||||
| Flettian | 266.0 | Aparima | Middle | ||
| Barettian | 276.0 | Early/Middle | |||
| Mangapirian | 285.0 | Early | |||
| Telfordian | 288.5 | ||||
| pre-Telfordian | 298.9 | ||||
| No stages recognised | 323.2 | Pennsylvanian | Carboniferous | ||
| 358.9 | Mississippian | ||||
| Famennian | 372.2 | Late | Devonian | ||
| Frasnian | 382.7 | ||||
| Givetian | 387.7 | Middle | |||
| Eifelian | 393.3 | ||||
| Emsian | 407.6 | Early | |||
| Pragian | 410.8 | ||||
| Lochkovian | 419.2 | ||||
| Přídolí | 423.0 | Přídolí | Silurian | ||
| Ludfordian | 425.6 | Ludlow | |||
| Gorstian | 427.4 | ||||
| Homerian | 430.5 | Wenlock | |||
| Sheinwoodian | 433.4 | ||||
| Telychian | 438.5 | Llandovery | |||
| Aeronian | 440.8 | ||||
| Rhuddanian | 443.8 | ||||
| Bolindian | 448.4 | Late | Ordovician | ||
| Eastonian | 453.0 | ||||
| Gisbornian | 448.4 | ||||
| Darriwilian | 467.3 | Middle | |||
| Yapeenian | 468.3 | ||||
| Castlemainian | 470.0 | ||||
| Chewtonian | 472.4 | Early | |||
| Bendigonian | 476 | ||||
| Lancefieldian | 484.3 | ||||
| Warendan | 485.4 | ||||
| Datsonian | 486.8 | Furongian | Cambrian | ||
| Payntonian | 489.5 | ||||
| Iverian | 494.0 | ||||
| Idamean | 497.0 | Miaolingian | Epoch 3 | ||
| Mindyallan | 499.0 | ||||
| Boomerangian | 500.5 | ||||
| Undillan | 503.0 | ||||
| Floran | 504.5 | ||||
| Templetonian | 508.0 | Mia./Series 1-2 | Ep.3/Epochs 1-2 | ||
| Ordian | 511.5 | Series 1-2 | Epochs 1-2 | ||
| No stages recognised | 541.0 | ||||
