Iceberg spotted from New Zealand shore

In the photo relaesed by the New Zealand Defense Department, an iceberg drifts off the coast of New Zealand in this Nov 3, 2006. The icebergs - two large ones and several smaller chunks - have sparked overseas interest as people clamour to view a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence that are now only a 30 minute helicopter flight from the southern city of Dunedin. (AP Photo/New Zealand Defense Department, HO)

An iceberg has been spotted from the New Zealand shore for the first time in 75 years, one of about 100 that have been drifting south of the country.

The giant ice chunk was visible Thursday from Dunedin on South Island but has since moved away, driven by winds and ocean currents. The flotilla of icebergs — some as big as houses — were first spotted south of New Zealand early this month.

Last year, icebergs were seen in the country's waters for the first time in 56 years. But the last time one was visible from the New Zealand shore was June 1931, said Mike Williams, an oceanographer at the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research.