WELLINGTON, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The 7.8 magnitude quake which was centered in New Zealand's Fiordland appeared to have twisted the South Island out of shape, moving it closer to Australia, scientists said on Wednesday.

The quake last Wednesday night was the largest to strike New Zealand in 78 years.

According to the Land Information's New Zealand-GeoNet global positioning system, the Fiordland town of Te Anau is now 10 cm closer to Australia, Bluff by 3 cm, Alexandra by 2 cm and Dunedin by 1 cm.

The South Island's southwest tip Puysegur Point is 30 cm closer.

Scientists said the South Island will gradually move back to where it was before the quake -- but that process will take hundreds of years.