Tsunami warning evacuation for North Island West Coast

The Waikato Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group has issued an urgent warning for residents on the West Coast to move to higher ground due to a tsunami warning.

The warning applies to residents in Raglan, Kawhia and Mokau and all coastal settlements near these areas.

The warning has been issued by Paul Blewman, incident controller for the Waikato Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.

The warning follows a similar warning for low-lying areas of the Coromandel Coast following the earthquake in Samoa and tsunami warning.

Residents are being urged to listen to local radio broadcasts for further information.