Icebergs spark shipping warnings

Iceberg seen of the coast of sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. Photo / Brett Quinton

Warnings are in place to protect ships from running into a group of icebergs approaching New Zealand.

Maritime New Zealand has issued navigation warnings for vessels warning of potential hazards caused by the icebergs.

They warn of a flotilla of the icebergs and their location.

Maritime New Zealand spokeswoman Sophie Hazelhurst says the warnings have been in place for a few days.

"It's very much a pre-emptive measure," she says.

She said the icebergs are still a "very very" long way away, and a lot of the icebergs are "very big" and will show up on radar.

NIWA supply Maritime New Zealand with the location of the icebergs.

NIWA oceanographer Mike Williams says on last sighting - Tuesday afternoon - the icebergs were about 250km off the Southland/Otago coast.

- NZHERALD STAFF