Tsunami Update - Gisborne, East Coast

Gisborne people are this morning being advised to continue staying off the northern beaches until at least 10.30am and not to panic. However, no waves have been reported at Te Araroa or anywhere else on the coast.

Gisborne Civil Defence controller Jon Davies said that the district was expecting a wave of about one metre to arrive at East Cape at about 9.20am and Gisborne by 10am as a result of the earthquake that struck this morning.

“There is no cause for panic and no need for evacuation. Some people in low-lying areas at Hicks Bay, Te Araroa and Tokomaru Bay have been voluntarily evacuated as a precaution.

“We don’t expect much impact at all. However, the wave could be bigger than the one metre expected.”

Civil Defence communities in the northern areas are on alert and the Fire Service has moved its resources to higher ground at Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay to ensure they can respond if required.