Update 3.43pm, 5 March 2021

***NATIONAL ADVISORY: TSUNAMI ACTIVITY – CANCELLED***

The National Advisory issued at 2:48pm following this morning's earthquakes near the KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION is cancelled.

The advice from GNS Science, based on ocean observations, is that the Beach and Marine threat has now passed for all areas.

Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for up to another 24 hours. People should remain vigilant and take extra precautions with regards to beach and ocean activities.

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Update 1.19pm, 5 March 2021

***NATIONAL ADVISORY: TSUNAMI ACTIVITY – EXPECT STRONG AND UNUSUAL CURRENTS AND UNPREDICTABLE SURGES AT THE SHORE***

We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 8.1 earthquake near KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION at 2021-03-05 8:28 AM.

Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, small boats and anyone in or near the water close to shore.

People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, rivers and estuaries.

AREAS UNDER BEACH AND MARINE THREAT:

• The West Coast of the North Island from CAPE REINGA to MAKARA including the West Coast of Auckland, Manukau Harbour, New Plymouth, Whanganui and the Kapiti Coast,
• the East Coast of the North Island from CAPE REINGA to LAKE FERRY including Whangarei, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, the East Coast of Auckland, Waiheke Island, Waitemata Harbour, Tauranga, Whakatane, Opotiki, Gisborne and Napier,
• the West and South Coasts of the South Island from FAREWELL SPIT to THE CATLINS including Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika and Invercargill,
• the top of the South Island from FAREWELL SPIT to PORT UNDERWOOD including Nelson, Picton and the Marlborough Sounds,
• the East Coast of the South Island from the WAIPARA RIVER to the RAKAIA RIVER including Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, and from the TAIERI RIVER to THE CATLINS,
• STEWART ISLAND,
• CHATHAM ISLANDS.

There is no tsunami threat in all other areas.

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:

STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS

Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is no longer expected as a result of this event.  We are advising people to:

1. Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, rivers and estuaries.
2. Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
3. Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
4. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.
5. Return home if you have evacuated.

Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.

This National Advisory has been issued following an assessment of information available. The situation may change as new information becomes available. Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz

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Update 10.47am, 5 March 2021

***This is a Tsunami Warning for New Zealand coastal areas following the magnitude 8.1 earthquake near KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION***

There is a LAND and MARINE TSUNAMI THREAT. An Emergency Mobile Alert will be issued to the areas under land and marine tsunami threat. Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions regarding evacuation of your area.

AREAS UNDER LAND AND MARINE WARNING:

Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas) is expected in the following areas:

• The West Coast of the North Island from CAPE REINGA to AHIPARA.
• The East Coast of the North Island from CAPE REINGA to WHANGAREI, from MATATA to TOLAGA BAY including Whakatane and Opotiki.
• And GREAT BARRIER ISLAND.

Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges near the shore are expected in the following areas. This means a threat to beach, harbour, estuary and small boat activities.

• The West Coast of the North Island from AHIPARA to MAKARA including the West Coast of Auckland, Manukau Harbour, New Plymouth, Whanganui and the Kapiti Coast.
• The East Coast of the North Island from WHANGAREI to MATATA including Whangarei, the East Coast of Auckland, Waiheke Island, Waitemata Harbour and Tauranga, from TOLAGA BAY to LAKE FERRY including Gisborne and Napier.
• The West and South Coasts of the South Island from FAREWELL SPIT to PUYSEGUR POINT including Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika.
• The top of the South Island from FAREWELL SPIT to PORT UNDERWOOD including Nelson, Picton and the Marlborough Sounds.
• The East and South Coasts of the South Island from the WAIPARA RIVER to the RAKAIA RIVER including Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, from the TAIERI RIVER to PUYSEGUR POINT including Invercargill.
• And STEWART ISLAND.
• And the CHATHAM ISLANDS.

There is no tsunami threat in all other areas.

The first waves may reach New Zealand in the areas around LOTTIN POINT at approximately 9:49am New Zealand DaylightTime.

The severity of currents and surges will vary within a particular coastal area and over the period this warning is in effect.

The first wave may not be the largest. Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this warning is cancelled.

People in all New Zealand coastal areas should:

1. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz
2. Listen to local Civil Defence authorities and follow any instructions regarding evacuation of your area
3. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, this includes boats)
4. Stay off beaches and shore areas. Do not go sightseeing
5. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends

Evacuation advice overrides the current COVID-19 Alert Level requirements. Listen to local Civil Defence authorities and follow any instructions regarding evacuation of your area. If you are told to evacuate do not stay at home. Stay 2 metres away from others if you can and if it is safe to do so.

Only messages issued by the National Emergency Management Agency represent the official warning status for New Zealand. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) messages do not represent the official warning status for New Zealand.

This warning will remain in effect until a cancellation message is issued by the National Emergency Management Agency.

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Update  8.34am, 5 March 2021

GNS Science continue to assess the tsunami threat. At this time there is no new information. We will provide a further update within the next hour.

We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake near KERMADEC ISLANDS NEW ZEALAND at 2021-03-05 6:41 AM.

Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, small boats and anyone in or near the water close to shore.

People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, rivers and estuaries.

AREAS UNDER THREAT:

The East Coast of the North Island from the BAY OF ISLANDS to WHANGAREI.

There is no tsunami threat in all other areas.

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:

STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS

There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event. We are advising people to:

• Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, rivers and estuaries.
• Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
• Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
• Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.

Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.

This National Advisory has been issued following an assessment of information available. The situation may change as new information becomes available. Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz

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Update 7.13am, 5 March 2021

*** THIS IS A SEPARATE EARTHQUAKE TO TODAY'S HIKURANGI QUAKE AT 2:27AM ***

NATIONAL ADVISORY: TSUNAMI ACTIVITY – EXPECT STRONG AND UNUSUAL CURRENTS AND UNPREDICTABLE SURGES AT THE SHORE

We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake near KERMADEC ISLANDS NEW ZEALAND at 2021-03-05 6:41 AM.

Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, small boats and anyone in or near the water close to shore.

People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, rivers and estuaries.

AREAS UNDER THREAT: EAST COAST of the NORTH ISLAND from the BAY of ISLANDS to WHANGAREI

• Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, rivers and estuaries. Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
• Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
  Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.
• Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.
• This National Advisory has been issued following an assessment of information available. The situation may change as new information becomes available.
• Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz

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***This is a Tsunami Warning for New Zealand coastal areas following the magnitude 7.3 earthquake near East of the North Island***

AREAS UNDER LAND AND MARINE WARNING:

Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas) is expected in the following areas:

The East Coast of the North Island from CAPE RUNAWAY to TOLAGA BAY.

Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges near the shore are expected in the following areas. This means a threat to beach, harbour, estuary and small boat activities.

ALL OTHER COASTAL AREAS OF THE NORTH ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, THE SOUTH ISLAND, STEWART ISLAND and the CHATHAM ISLANDS.

The first waves may reach New Zealand in the areas around East Cape at approximately 3:34am New Zealand Standard Time.

The severity of currents and surges will vary within a particular coastal area and over the period this warning is in effect.

The first wave may not be the largest. Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this warning is cancelled.

People in all New Zealand coastal areas should:

1. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz
2. Listen to local Civil Defence authorities and follow any instructions regarding evacuation of your area
3. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, this includes boats)
4. Stay off beaches and shore areas
5. Do not go sightseeing
6. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends

Information on this incident can be found on the Ministry of Civil Defence website www.civildefence.govt.nz