Stunning visualisations have shown how Marlborough's faults were set off one by one in the 7.8 Kaikoura Earthquake.
The GeoNet network of seismometers and continuously operating GPS instruments have allowed an unprecedented view of the propagation of last Monday's earthquake in real time.
"Computer simulations using GeoNet seismological data allow us to watch the progress of the rupture as it punched its way up the east coast of the South Island over an approximately two minute period early in the morning of November 14," GeoNet stated in a new blog post.
Because Geonet's seismic network had numerous seismic stations situated very close to the rupture - just like its Canterbury Seismic Network during the 2010-2011 earthquake sequence) - the data from these sensors allowed scientists to essentially travel back in time and watch the event unfold.
Computer simulations of the seismological data suggested that the rupture started in the south, on a fault at approximately 15km depth near Culverden.
The initial rupture near Culverden subsequently triggered a domino effect, as the earthquake rupture jumped from fault to fault, essentially "unzipping" along a 150km length of the northeast coast of the South Island.
