The western boundary current of the South Pacific subtropical gyre. It originates in the Coral Sea near 1°S from the South Equatorial Current and flows southward along the east Australian coast. Although it is the weakest of all western boundary currents with a mean transport of little more than 15 Sv (15 × 106 m3s−1), its speed is rarely less than 1. 5 m s−1. The current is stronger in summer (December–March). It separates from the Australian coast between 31° and 34°S to flow toward the northern tip of North Island, New Zealand, shedding about three eddies per year in the process. Its eastward passage from Australia to New Zealand is known as the Tasman Front, which separates warm tropical water in the Coral Sea from the subtropical water of the Tasman Sea.