Study sounds alarm on New Zealand's sinking coastline, rising sea levels

The research found that parts of Wellington, the capital, will see 30 centimetres of sea level rise in just 18 years’ time. This would cause typically once-in-a-century floods every year. AFP - DAVID ROWLAND

Scientific projections show sea levels in New Zealand are rising twice as fast as previously thought in many parts of the country.

Released Monday, the data reveals that homes and other infrastructure in Auckland, Wellington and elsewhere risk being inundated decades earlier than expected.