A tsunami-alert siren was accidentally activated in the Whangarei district last night.
"There is no actual tsunami threat, and no one is in danger," police said after it sounded and advised people there was no need to evacuate or move to higher ground.
The alarms were to be tested in coastal and harbour areas- from Mangawhai in the south to Whangaruru in the north- this morning to ensure they worked properly and let residents know what they sounded like.
Graeme MacDonald, of Civil Defence Northland, said a technician accidentally set off the sirens for six minutes at about 7pm.
The false alarm was disappointing, Mr MacDonald said. "It was set off in error," he said. "These things occur and I apologise to anyone who was affected."
He said about 17 people contacted the police communications centre after the siren sounded and other calls had been made to Civil Defence. The response from members of the public showed they were aware of the system, he said.
Ruakaka resident Simon Ellison said he had tuned into the radio for an announcement straight after the siren sounded and was concerned when nothing was broadcast.
"We were told to listen to the radio, TV or computer, so I tuned in straight away," he said.
Mr MacDonald said people needed to realise that it was not possible to get something on the radio straight away.
"It takes a bit of time."
A statement was issued by police soon after the siren sounded and an item was to be broadcast on the radio last night to advise people it was a false alarm, he said.
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