Hawke's Bay's top Civil Defence controller has warned residents that there is a risk of big aftershocks after last night's large earthquake.
Hawke's Bay Civil Defence emergency management group controller Ian Macdonald said that while coastal residents around Haumoana and Te Awanga had been cleared to return home they, along with the rest of the region's residents, had been advised to stay in touch with updates through radio, television, civil defence sites and social media as any major aftershocks could change the situation.
"For the next couple of days there is the risk of a big aftershocks - we have to be ready for that," .
"We are continuing to monitor the situation."
Mr Mcdonald said he was pleased with the reaction of large numbers of coastal residents who made their own decisions to head to higher ground or inland after the earthquake which shattered their sleep just after midnight.