University of Otago seismologist Associate Prof Andrew Gorman said the location of a magnitude 5.8 earthquake 30km west of Wanaka yesterday was no surprise.
Prof Gorman, of the geology department, said the epicentre was about 50km from the main Alpine Fault system and in a mountainous area where fault activity could be expected.
Further research arising from this quake and a related succession of smaller shakes was likely to reveal valuable further insights about fault activity in the area.
