New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a tsunami warning for several areas after a series of earthquakes struck the Kermadec Islands this morning.
The areas under threat included all coastal areas around Auckland, from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei, from Matata to Tolaga Bay including Whakatane and Opotiki, and the Great Barrier Island. NEMA instructed all those in an area at risk of flooding to immediately move to higher ground, a tsunami evacuation zone, or as far inland as possible.
Bill Fry, a seismologist at the geoscience body GNS, said that 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," he said.
Authorities warn tsunami waves may reach 3 metres above tide levels.