New date for tsunami sirens test after they failed to go off in April
Christchurch's coastal tsunami warning sirens will be re-tested in July after the last planned test in April failed to go off.
Forty-five sirens between Brooklands and Taylors Mistake will sound for up to three minutes at 11am on Sunday, July 13.
Christchurch City Council civil defence and emergency management manager, Brenden Winder, said residents will hear a tone followed by a message: "This is a test of the tsunami warning sirens. Do not be alarmed. This is only a test."
The new testing date has been set after the sirens failed to go off on April 6 due to human error.
The scheduled testing of the 45 sirens between Brooklands and Taylors Mistake failed when the sole operator of the technology, based in Auckland, was dealing with a car accident outside their house at the time the sirens were scheduled to go off.
There are now concerns the siren network is unfit for purpose as a primary emergency mechanism due to its age and outdated technology.
The current multi-modal warning system incorporates emergency mobile alerts (EMAs), radio broadcasts, emergency services, traditional and social media, and sirens.
There is a proposal to reduce the 45 sirens to about 10, located at specific points where the efficiency of alerting systems such as EMAs may be reduced. This will be discussed by the city council on June 10.
Winder said it is important the sirens are re-tested to ensure they work effectively.
"We recognise the critical importance of testing the tsunami sirens and acknowledge the confusion that the earlier failed test created,' he said.
"We've had discussions with our supplier and we have sufficient safeguards in place to ensure this test will go ahead as planned. It is only a test and there is no need for anyone to evacuate.'
Winder said reminders will also be put out closer to the testing date.
In the event of a real immediate tsunami threat, Winder said Civil Defence and police will use the cellphone-based Emergency Mobile Alert system, radio, television, social media, sirens and local community networks to alert residents.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
7 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
New date for tsunami sirens test after they failed to go off in April
Christchurch's coastal tsunami warning sirens will be re-tested in July after the last planned test in April failed to go off. Forty-five sirens between Brooklands and Taylors Mistake will sound for up to three minutes at 11am on Sunday, July 13. Christchurch City Council civil defence and emergency management manager, Brenden Winder, said residents will hear a tone followed by a message: "This is a test of the tsunami warning sirens. Do not be alarmed. This is only a test." The new testing date has been set after the sirens failed to go off on April 6 due to human error. The scheduled testing of the 45 sirens between Brooklands and Taylors Mistake failed when the sole operator of the technology, based in Auckland, was dealing with a car accident outside their house at the time the sirens were scheduled to go off. There are now concerns the siren network is unfit for purpose as a primary emergency mechanism due to its age and outdated technology. The current multi-modal warning system incorporates emergency mobile alerts (EMAs), radio broadcasts, emergency services, traditional and social media, and sirens. There is a proposal to reduce the 45 sirens to about 10, located at specific points where the efficiency of alerting systems such as EMAs may be reduced. This will be discussed by the city council on June 10. Winder said it is important the sirens are re-tested to ensure they work effectively. "We recognise the critical importance of testing the tsunami sirens and acknowledge the confusion that the earlier failed test created,' he said. "We've had discussions with our supplier and we have sufficient safeguards in place to ensure this test will go ahead as planned. It is only a test and there is no need for anyone to evacuate.' Winder said reminders will also be put out closer to the testing date. In the event of a real immediate tsunami threat, Winder said Civil Defence and police will use the cellphone-based Emergency Mobile Alert system, radio, television, social media, sirens and local community networks to alert residents.
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- RNZ News
Power cuts after possible tornado rips through Hamilton
Emergency services and council staff are helping with the clean up after a possible tornado ripped through suburbs in Hamilton on Thursday night. Tiles have been ripped off roofs and power lines brought down in Nawton and Dinsdale. Power was cut to nearly 100 homes there at about 9.30pm, but had since been restored. A further 300 homes in and around the southern suburb of Bader lost power at midnight but this was restored within an hour and a half. Early on Friday more than 170 properties remained disconnected. Civil Defence Waikato said it had received reports of a tornado, although MetService could not confirm that. It said there would be lingering showers as the thunderstorms moved eastwards. Mayor Paula Southgate said emergency services and city arborists were helping with clean up and repairs, and asked people to stay away from the area. Photos posted to social media showed fences blown over, a trampoline stuck in power lines and emergency services attending to a hole in a roof. Emergency services attended more than a dozen weather related calls overnight. Fire and Emergency were also called to trees blown down in Clevedon and Mangatangi, south of Auckland. High winds have been battering the region. Earlier on Thursday two homes in the city lost roof tiles and some trees were downed in the suburb of Dinsdale. One business had minor flooding. Severe thunderstorm warnings for Kaipara, Far North, Whangārei and Rodney issued earlier in the day by MetService had since been lifted. Elsewhere, Waipā District Council said a sudden hailstorm may have caused surface flooding in some areas. St Peter's Catholic School in Cambridge posted a video of the aftermath to its social media account. Hail at St Peter's Catholic School in Cambridge, Waikato this afternoon. Photo: Screengrab A Cambridge resident also posted "scary hail storm ... never seen anything like it" on social media. A low was moving eastward across the North Island, bringing possible severe gales, MetService said. It said there was also a low risk of a small tornado, which could occur with or without a thunderstorm. MetService said during Friday and over the weekend, a strong west to southwest flow would affect the country. Watches for the possibility of severe gales were in place for several areas, including Hawke's Bay, Southern Fiordland, Southland, Stewart Island, Clutha and Dunedin. There was a high chance these watches would be upgraded to wind warnings. A strong wind watch was also in place for Chatham Islands with a moderate chance of an upgrade. "Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures [are] possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles," MetService said. The forecasting agency advised residents in these areas to secure items that could be picked up by strong winds and drive cautiously. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Kaipara, Far North, Whangārei and Rodney. Photo: MetService Meanwhile, road snowfall warnings were in place for three roads in Southland and Central Otago. Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Road and Milford Road (SH94) were expected to have snow accumulate on Friday. In Bay of Plenty, State Highway 25 north of Thames was closed due to a slip early on Thursday. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said the highway would remain closed while it awaited a technical evaluation and there was no detour available. It said motorists should avoid the area. Lanes on State Highway 2 near Ōpōtiki were also blocked due to multiple slips on Waioweka Gorge. Motorists can still travel on this route, however, they are advised to take care. NZTA's System Manager for Waikato Andy Oakley said it knew the state highway needed increased resilience and this was a focus for the agency. Fortunately, the wild weather is likely to clear up just in time for the weekend. During Friday and Saturday a strong west to southwest flow affects the country, MetService said. "We will still have the hangover from the current low pressure system that's moving across the country. So, strong southwesterlies persist through to Saturday," MetService's Heather Keats said. A ridge of high pressure over the North Island until Monday will calm the weather, with clear skies for most of the weekend, she said. However, there will be some showers in the south and west of the South Island. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- RNZ News
Clean up begins after possible tornado rips through Hamilton, dozens without power
Emergency services and council staff are helping with the clean up after a possible tornado ripped through suburbs in Hamilton on Thursday night. Tiles have been ripped off roofs and power lines brought down in Nawton and Dinsdale. Power was cut to nearly 100 homes there at about 9.30pm. A further 300 homes in and around the southern suburb of Bader lost power at midnight but this was restored within an hour and a half. Early on Friday more than 170 properties remained disconnected. Civil Defence Waikato said it had received reports of a tornado, although MetService could not confirm that. It said there would be lingering showers as the thunderstorms moved eastwards. Mayor Paula Southgate said emergency services and city arborists were helping with clean up and repairs, and asked people to stay away from the area. Photos posted to social media showed fences blown over, a trampoline stuck in power lines and emergency services attending to a hole in a roof. High winds have been battering the region. Earlier on Thursday two homes in the city lost roof tiles and some trees were downed in the suburb of Dinsdale. One business had minor flooding. Severe thunderstorm warnings for Kaipara, Far North, Whangārei and Rodney issued earlier in the day by MetService had since been lifted. Elsewhere, Waipā District Council said a sudden hailstorm may have caused surface flooding in some areas. St Peter's Catholic School in Cambridge posted a video of the aftermath to its social media account. Hail at St Peter's Catholic School in Cambridge, Waikato this afternoon. Photo: Screengrab A Cambridge resident also posted "scary hail storm ... never seen anything like it" on social media. A low was moving eastward across the North Island, bringing possible severe gales, MetService said. It said there was also a low risk of a small tornado, which could occur with or without a thunderstorm. MetService said during Friday and over the weekend, a strong west to southwest flow would affect the country. Watches for the possibility of severe gales were in place for several areas, including Hawke's Bay, Southern Fiordland, Southland, Stewart Island, Clutha and Dunedin. There was a high chance these watches would be upgraded to wind warnings. A strong wind watch was also in place for Chatham Islands with a moderate chance of an upgrade. "Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures [are] possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles," MetService said. The forecasting agency advised residents in these areas to secure items that could be picked up by strong winds and drive cautiously. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Kaipara, Far North, Whangārei and Rodney. Photo: MetService Meanwhile, road snowfall warnings were in place for three roads in Southland and Central Otago. Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Road and Milford Road (SH94) were expected to have snow accumulate on Friday. In Bay of Plenty, State Highway 25 north of Thames was closed due to a slip early on Thursday. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said the highway would remain closed while it awaited a technical evaluation and there was no detour available. It said motorists should avoid the area. Lanes on State Highway 2 near Ōpōtiki were also blocked due to multiple slips on Waioweka Gorge. Motorists can still travel on this route, however, they are advised to take care. NZTA's System Manager for Waikato Andy Oakley said it knew the state highway needed increased resilience and this was a focus for the agency. Fortunately, the wild weather is likely to clear up just in time for the weekend. During Friday and Saturday a strong west to southwest flow affects the country, MetService said. "We will still have the hangover from the current low pressure system that's moving across the country. So, strong southwesterlies persist through to Saturday," MetService's Heather Keats said. A ridge of high pressure over the North Island until Monday will calm the weather, with clear skies for most of the weekend, she said. However, there will be some showers in the south and west of the South Island. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
