Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Tsunado alert developer says device is more effective than cellphones

Sandra Conchie
By Sandra Conchie
Multimedia Journalist, Bay of Plenty Times·Bay of Plenty Times·
19 Nov, 2016 06:30 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Tsunado NZ Ltd technical director Gary Benner. Photo/supplied

Tsunado NZ Ltd technical director Gary Benner. Photo/supplied

The Tauranga developer of an in-home tsunami siren device says his invention would be more reliable than "ineffective" cellphone alerts.

Tsunado New Zealand Limited technical director Gary Benner said mobile and cellular technologies were ineffective in alerting the public to an imminent disaster, and were more useful for disseminating information.

"That is because they only worked if there is good cellphone coverage and
people need to be awake to receive the text alert."

Mr Benner said Monday's earthquake exposed "major deficiencies" in Civil Defence's ability to alert the public in time.

"We saw that cellular networks either collapse or in a number of locations the earthquake destroyed the fibre links required for the cellular system to operate ... The answer is already built and ready to go."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mr Benner said the Tsunado device was a "one in every home" unit combining a portable radio and a siren as loud as a smoke alarm.

Once activated, the Tsunado's radio speaker automatically turned on a radio warning message, and a short text message was displayed on the device's screen.

Mr Benner said the portable radio component would then allow householders to receive up to date Civil Defence emergency news and instructions.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"When all else fails the Tsunado will keep on transmitting, and the battery would last five to 10 days before the need for recharging."

Mr Benner said the Tsunado had been designed together with three Civil Defence authorities using a $255,000 grant from the Callaghan Innovation Fund.

The device had been audited by the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management and been tested by Civil Defence staff in the Bay of Plenty and Auckland.

At less than $1 million a year to operate, the Tsunado system would provide a multi-channel system using radio and satellite options, giving "100 per cent" nationwide coverage, he said.

"Broadcast radio and satellites don't have the same vulnerabilities as cellphones."

Bay of Plenty Regional Council emergency management director Clinton Naude said during the initial stages, the Civil Defence group was interested in the Tsunado concept.

"At no stage did we give the company 100 per cent endorsement as a system to use in Civil Defence emergencies. Our view is that any alerting system for a tsunami should be a standardised nationwide system," he said.

Tsunado Alert Radios

- Normally powered by standard plug pack.

- Operates on battery for up to 10 days.

- Uses broadcast radio and satellite transmission.

- The device only turns on when there is an alert message.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

- Can be targeted to specific regions using a regional code
or GPS on enhanced versions of the alert device.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Bay of Plenty Times

Teen's 900km ride for Māori wards ends with cheers at Parliament

14 Jul 12:34 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

'Plague of hoons' on motorbikes tearing up Tauranga parks

13 Jul 07:03 PM
Bay of Plenty Times

Making NZ top destination for international students

13 Jul 06:55 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Teen's 900km ride for Māori wards ends with cheers at Parliament

Teen's 900km ride for Māori wards ends with cheers at Parliament

14 Jul 12:34 AM

He delivered a support letter to Parliament, and was greeted by Chris Hipkins.

'Plague of hoons' on motorbikes tearing up Tauranga parks

'Plague of hoons' on motorbikes tearing up Tauranga parks

13 Jul 07:03 PM
Making NZ top destination for international students

Making NZ top destination for international students

13 Jul 06:55 PM
Premium
Opinion: Why Mary Meeker's latest AI insights can't be ignored

Opinion: Why Mary Meeker's latest AI insights can't be ignored

13 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP