A global sea level history determined by Vail et al. (1977) consists of 23 sea level cycles between the base of the Cenozoic and the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary (65 Ma to 1.8 Ma). The authors have examined the relationship between this global sea level history and the New Zealand and Australian continental margin shallow marine sedimentary record and the record of deposition, nondeposition and erosion in the deep sea. These in turn are examined in relation to the history of polar glaciation.