Close to the coast? Register for North Shore tsunami alerts
People living on land which is less than 15 metres (vertically) above low tide mark are encouraged to register with the Council telephone tsunami alert system. Workplaces on low ground are also advised to register.
In the event of a tsunami evacuation warning, people registered on the system would receive an automated phone warning. People who want to register should contact council Actionline, phone (09) 486 8600 or email actionline@northshorecity.govt.nz. Each person who registers is asked to specify a phone number, which can be either a mobile or landline.
When a tsunami alert is in force, the North Shore Civil Defence and Emergency Management team keep in very close contact with the Civil Defence and Emergency Management authorities in Auckland and Wellington. Council advice is based on the information they distribute.
The automated tsunami warning phone system is activated only when there is genuine concern that a tsunami large enough to be a threat is likely to reach the North Shore.
If the tsunami originates some distance from New Zealand, the wave height monitoring systems in the Far North of New Zealand and in the Pacific Islands mean that the authorities can assess the risk of a tsunami with considerable accuracy.
However if a strong undersea earthquake or landslide close to the New Zealand coast generates a tsunami, there will be little or no time for official warnings. The closer the undersea earthquake is to the shore, the less time there will be to take action to avoid any tsunami generated.
