New Zealand sceptics defy 'Moon-man' quake prophecy

WELLINGTON: Geologists, engineers and like minded sceptics will meet in earthquake devastated Christchurch on Sunday to mock "junk science" predictions another major tremor will hit the city this weekend.

Ken Ring, a quasi mystic mathematician known as the "Moon-man", claims he predicted last month's 6.3 magnitude quake by studying the moon and has warned another tremor will rock New Zealand's second largest city on March 20.

So far 166 people have been confirmed killed in February's disaster, although police have said they expect the figure to rise to more than 200.