KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's newest tourist attraction -- the giant icebergs off the South Island's east coast -- may soon be over.
Tourists have been paying up to $500 for helicopter rides out to the icebergs which have been spotted as close as 60km to the mainland.
Icebergs have not been seen this close to New Zealand since 1931.
But the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research oceanographer Dr Mike Williams said yesterday that warmer temperatures were taking their toll on the icebergs which were fast disappearing.
Sightseers yesterday noted huge chunks breaking off the flotilla of icebergs.
- NZPA
