The Kahurangi Shoals, north-west of Kahurangi Point, Nelson, and the Westland and D'Urville Currents are the major factors influencing the sediment distribution and sedimentation processes on the north-western shelf of the South Island. The sediments are derived from two major sources, one the Kahurangi Shoals, the other the high Alpine region which supplies its erosion products to sea by steep mountain streams and rivers. The Westland and D'Urville Currents not only carry the Alpine detritus to the area but also largely control the sediment distribution pattern. Immediately south and north of Farewell Spit well sorted wind-blown sands derived from the Spit have accumulated, whereas further south in Golden Bay the sediments are mainly supplied by the Aorere and Takaka Rivers. Petrologically the shelf sands are mainly a quartz-feldspar association with magnetite, ilmenite, garnet, and hornblende as rnaior constituents in the heavy mineral assemblage. The gravels and boulders derived from the Kahurangi Shoals consist mainly of well rounded quartzites. Seismic reflection profiles give an indication of the depositional history during and since the Pleistocene and provide information on the rate of sedimentation.