The Kaikoura seabed will be re-mapped following the town's 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck in November 2016.

The seabed, which was lifted during the quake, will be re-mapped between Kaikoura and Cape Campbell over the next few months by two boats using state-of- the-art multi-beam sonars.

The re-mapping project, which is being carried out by Land Information NZ, IXSURVEY and Discovery Marine Limited, will map 35,000 hectares of the seabed.

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The water depth will be measured to show the shape of the seafloor and reveal rocks and reefs that may be a hazard to those sailing in the area.

The data will also be used to tell what the seabed is made of and help scientists to understand what sealife may live there.

Hydrographic surveyor Annette Hadler says earlier surveys have shown changes to the seabed in the upper South Island following the quake, and she expects this work will give a more detailed picture of the changes.

The re-mapping comes two months after the Kaikoura harbour was re-opened, which took a year to rebuild.

The quake had left the harbour's water level too shallow for the harbour to function properly, which left tourism operators restricted in their use of the harbour.