Scientists have revealed the extent of uplift on the South Island's northeastern coast, observing that in some places the land was raised by 2m. At this stage, GeoNet estimated the coast was raised between 50cm and 2m from about 20km south of Kaikoura all the way north to Cape Campbell. When such vertical movement on a fault happened near the coast, land was raised above sea level. Coastal uplift was normal for large earthquakes near the coast that included some vertical movement on a fault. For example, in 1931 the 7.8 Hawkes Bay earthquake raised land around Napier by 1m-2m above sea level.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 17, 2016 21:06 UTC