How many faults are in New Zealand?

Answer 1

The largest fault is the Alpine Fault running most of the length of the South Island and continuing through the North Island to join up with the Kermadec Trench in the NE of New Zealand. This otherwise straight line fault breaks up into a number of parallel faults between north Canterbury and the east of the North Island.

In addition there are hundreds of smaller faults, the whole process being driven by tectonic forces. There is some thought that the Alpine Fault is a displaced part of one of the Transcurrent Faults that run at 90 deg to the main Mid Ocean Ridge (sea floor spreading) in the south eastern Pacific.