He also called for improved earthquake early warning systems and the offshore monitoring of subduction zones where continental plates overlapped. One of the suggestions was $250,000 monitoring buoys capable of delivering a much earlier warning of the size of a tsunami generated close to New Zealand.
Cr Morris said residents were told to heed natural warning signs, such as a large earthquake, and move inland. Nothwithstanding this advice, many people expected a formalised and reliable alert system.
A barrier to this system was that it took up to an hour to activate an alerting system because of the "decision-making tree" followed by Civil Defence.
The issue for the Mount and Papamoa was that a tsunami generated from the Kermadec Trench would have nearly hit Tauranga by the time the hour was up.
"Funding and leadership should come from central government ... it will reduce the risk to life for a relatively low spend," he said.
Cr Morris said the annual risk of death from a tsunami was actually higher than other natural hazards and the risk of being murdered.
However, the low likelihood of high consequence events, such as a tsunami, measured over a thousand years meant they received little attention or funding compared to higher-likelihood, low-consequence events such as floods or assault.
The council was in the final stages of establishing overland escape routes for Papamoa and Arataki from a tsunami generated close to New Zealand. He said quite a bit had been done on evacuation routes and council was this month going out for tender for signs to point people to the routes.
"As for sirens, I like them loud," Cr Morris said.
Councillor Bill Grainger said Japan had early and accurate warning systems for close-in offshore earthquakes. He said any system also needed to be supported by World War II-style sirens that everyone could hear.
