Possible NZ arrival times for tsunami

A tsunami of half a metre has been measured at the Chatham Islands and ten centimetres at East Cape.

The Chatham Island activity was first recorded as 20 centimetres, but has been upgraded to 50 centimetres.

Civil Defence says these are just the first arrivals and larger waves may follow over a period of several hours. It is assuring people it is monitoring the situation closely.

It is continuing to warn historical data suggests waves could reach as high at three metres on the Chatham Islands and Banks Peninsula.

Waves around the rest of the country are expected to be no higher than a metre, but that does not take tides into account. Civil Defence says the greatest waves could occur six to 12 hours after the first wave arrives.


Estimated wave arrival times

Chatham Islands (Kaingaroa) 07.52
Chatham Islands (Waitangi) 07.35
North Cape 09.24
Whangarei 09.45
Auckland (North Head) 10.52
Mt Maunganui 09.04
East Cape 08.24
Gisborne 08.29
New Plymouth 11.26
Napier 08.53
Wanganui 10.19
Wellington 08.55
Nelson 10.35
Marlborough Sounds (Tory Channel) 09.08
Westport 10.38
Greymouth 10.20
Christchurch (New Brighton) 09.35
Timaru 09.07
Milford Sound 09.35
Dunedin 08.59
Bluff 09.28
Stewart Island 09.51

- NEWSTALK ZB