Source: Northland Regional Council
Northland’s six-monthly tsunami siren test will take place at the start of daylight saving on Sunday, 29 September.
The sirens sound twice: firstly at 10am for 10 minutes, and then again at 10.30am for 30 seconds, and will be monitored for any faults.
Indoor sirens will be tested at the same time as the outdoor network.
The network of over 200 outdoor tsunami sirens, spanning coastal communities from Te Hāpua in the north to Mangawhai in the south and Ruawai in the west, is checked twice a year, coinciding with the start and end of daylight saving.
Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group spokesperson Zach Woods, emphasises the importance of also recognising natural tsunami warning signs: “local source tsunami (those generated close to the coast) could arrive ahead of any official warning, so everyone who spends time on the coast should know the natural warning signs of a tsunami – a strong earthquake that is hard to stand up in or one that lasts longer than a minute, or unusual sea behaviour, such as a sudden rise or fall and/or unusual noise.”
Woods adds, “Residents in Northland’s coastal communities may have noticed new upgraded sirens installed recently. The upcoming test will only involve the current siren network; the newly installed upgraded sirens will not be tested at this time.
To avoid confusion and ensure continuity, the current network will continue to be used and maintained until all new sirens are operational. The old sirens will then be progressively removed once the new ones are in use.”
Northlanders can check out whether they live, work or play in a tsunami evacuation zone, and plan the quickest route to safety, using the interactive maps at: www.nrc.govt.nz/evacuationzones
Northland’s outdoor tsunami sirens are funded and owned by the region’s four councils (Far North District, Whangarei District, Kaipara District, and Northland Regional Council).
