Alert opened: 31 Jul 2025
NATIONAL ADVISORY: TSUNAMI ACTIVITY – EXPECT STRONG AND UNUSUAL CURRENTS AND UNPREDICTABLE SURGES AT THE SHORE
We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following the magnitude 8.8 earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA RUSSIA at 2025-07-30 11:25 AM.
Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.
People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
AREAS UNDER THREAT:
ALL COASTAL AREAS OF THE NORTH ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, THE SOUTH ISLAND, STEWART ISLAND, and the CHATHAM ISLANDS
**NOTE: The threat is likely to remain in force until at least midday today**
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS
People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.
There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event. We are advising people to:
Tsunami activity has already reached parts of New Zealand. The first currents and surges are unlikely to be the largest and are expected to continue over many hours. The threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.
This National Advisory has been issued following an assessment of information available. The situation may change as new information becomes available. Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz
Affected districts
Dunedin City has the second largest land area of any New Zealand city, ranging from intensive urban development around the Otago Harbour to sparsely populated high country in Strath Taieri. Dunedin has beautiful built heritage, stunning scenery & unique biodiversity.
Dunedin City can experience storms, flooding, earthquakes, wildfire, infrastructure failure, space weather and has low lying areas that are at risk to tsunami.
For more information about hazards in the Dunedin district, visit Otago Regional Council's natural hazards portal
Being prepared to look after yourself during an emergency will help you, your family and community through times of disruption.
If life or property is at immediate risk, always call 111.
If you need assistance during an emergency, your first point of contact should be family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues, or those immediately around you wherever you are.
During an emergency, information will be available through several channels from Dunedin City Council and Emergency Management Otago.
When an emergency affects the district, the Dunedin City Council will provide information to the community and visitors through a variety of channels, including their website and Facebook pages.
The Council may use traditional media channels like radio and local newspapers to share information if available.
Sign up to Otago Gets Ready to receive alerts.
Radio Dunedin - 1305 AM, 95.4 & 106.7FM
More FM - 97.4 FM
The Hits - 89.4 FM
The Breeze 98.2 FM
Magic Talk - 96.6 FM
Newstalk ZB - 1044AM
RNZ National - 101.4 FM
RNZ National - 810 AM
OAR FM - 105.4 FM, 1575 AM
Leave home only if you are in immediate danger or if you are officially advised to.
Stay inside (unless you are advised to evacuate) if there is a chemical or gas disaster or a storm. Listen to the radio, look at online media channels or TV for information. If the power is off, you can use a radio app on your phone, a solar or battery powered radio or your car radio.
If you need to evacuate, secure your home as though you were going on holiday and turn off power, water, and gas. Ensure each adult in your household knows how to turn these off.
Evacuate if there is:
No one knows a community better than those who live in it!
Community Resilience Groups are a team people in your area who are trained to open and run a Community Emergency hub. They work with Emergency Management Otago to develop community response plans by the community, for the community. They are a great way for the community to come together, discuss and outline how they plan to respond and keep each other safe during an emergency event.
To ensure that Community Resilience Groups have the capability to activate, training can be provided by Emergency Management Otago to cover:
• Community Emergency Hub operations.
• Health and safety requirements
• Status reporting and radio communications.
Contact your local Emergency Management Advisor for further information on creating a community resilience group for your area or to join an existing one.
Emergency Management Otago works with communities across Dunedin to develop capability and resilience within each community so that they can prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Together we have created a series of community resilience guides. These are living documents and are a short, ready-reference guide with information about local hazards and practical tips for preparedness.
Aramoana Community Resilience Guide
Blueskin Bay Community Resilience Guide
Karitane Community Resilience Guide
Lower West Harbour Community Resilience Guide
Mosgiel Taieri Community Resilience Guide
North Dunedin Community Resilience Guide
Otago Peninsula Community Resilience Guide
Outram Community Resilience Guide
Southern Coastal Community Resilience Guide
Saddle Hill Green Island Community Resilience Guide
Southern Urban Dunedin Community Resilience Guide
Strath Taieri Community Resilience Guide
In an emergency
If there is a threat to life or property, dial 111 for emergency services
Where to find information
Contact Dunedin City Council
Phone: +64 3 477 4000
Email: dcc@dcc.govt.nz
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
For general inquiries about civil defence or being part of a Community Resilience Group, contact:
Taylor Hendl
Emergency Management Advisor (Dunedin City)
Taylor.hendl@otagocdem.govt.nz
Claire Charleton
Emergency Management Advisor (Dunedin City)
claire.charleton@otagocdem.govt.nz
Chris Brooker
Emergency Management Advisor (Dunedin City)