New Zealand moves closer to Australia

[prydey]

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/...014090,00.html

New Zealand moves closer to Australia after earthquake

Herald Sun

New Zealand
Shaky isles ... the 7.8 magnitude quake twisted the South Island out of shape and moved it closer to Australia.

* South Island now 30cm closer to Australia
* Still 2250km gap between countries
* 7.8 magnitude quake struck last week

THERE won't be any cheaper air fares but southern New Zealand is now closer to Australia after last week's huge earthquake.

The quake was so powerful it pushed the South Island 30cm closer to Australia.

The island's east coast moved only 1cm westwards, the Herald Sun reports.

"New Zealand just got a little bit bigger," earthquake scientist Ken Gledhill said.

He said the quake did it "in a few seconds rather than waiting hundreds of years".

While it brings our eastern neighbour closer, there's still a 2250km gap between us.

The 7.8 magnitude quake, the biggest in New Zealand for 78 years, caused slight damage to buildings and property when it struck the remote Fiordland region last Thursday.

A tsunami was generated - a tide gauge on the west coast recorded a wave of 1m.


great! thats all we need! :

some humerous comments at the bottom of the article in the readers section also.