Porangahau's new blue line could save lives in a tsunami

Getting behind the new Blue Line at Porangahau are Edaan Lennan of the HBCDEM Group, CHB Mayor Alex Walker, Porangahau Primary pupils, Anthony Tipene-Matua and Porangahau Constable John Singer.

The township of Pōrangahau is the first community in Hawke's Bay to receive tsunami "Blue Lines" - road markings that show the maximum reach of a large tsunami.

The Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (HBCDEM) says the public education initiative could save lives, by indicating the safe places to evacuate to if there is a long or strong earthquake (an earthquake that lasts longer than a minute or one that is too strong for a person to easily stand up).

A blessing for the region's first Blue Lines was held by HBCDEM and Central Hawke's Bay District Council on Friday afternoon, led by Anthony Tipene-Matua of Rongomaraeroa Marae.

There are now two new Blue Lines in Pōrangahau: One on Dundas Street and another on Blackhead Road.

HBCDEM community engagement team leader Jae Whelan says Blue Lines are an effective public education tool that, alongside the other tsunami signage in the area, will help keep the community safe.

"We are at risk of tsunami in Hawke's Bay. In fact, the latest research concluded there is a one in four chance of a major, potentially tsunami-causing earthquake occurring offshore in the next 50 years.

"The Blue Lines are an innovative, high-impact and low-cost way to help us manage that risk for people who live in and visit the community here in Pōrangahau."

Blue Lines were pioneered at Island Bay in Wellington in 2010, when Wellington City Council worked with the local community to develop an effective tsunami public education campaign.

The initial Blue Line project won two International Association for Emergency Managers awards in 2012, and since then the concept has been rolled out in different communities around New Zealand - and has even been adopted by the Oregon Office of Emergency Management in the United States.

In July 2021, HBCDEM began consulting with the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) on using Blue Lines in Hawke's Bay.

"We know from Wellington's experience that Blue Lines keep people aware of the tsunami risk and of the need to be prepared. They also complement our standard tsunami signage," Whelan said.

Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker attended the blessing and said it was significant that Pōrangahau was the first area in the region to adopt Blue Lines.

"Resilience runs deep in the Pōrangahau community, strengthened by a long history living along and near this beautiful coastline," Walker said.

"They're always prepared, and always look after each other. These new tsunami safe zone markings are a tangible result of that care and foresight, and an expression of manaakitanga to visitors and local residents."

Whelan said that everyone who lives, works in or visits the area should get to know where the Blue Lines are.

"Remember, if an earthquake is long or strong, get past the Blue Lines immediately. Don't wait for an official warning – get gone."

HBCDEM will be working with other councils and communities across the region to see where Blue Lines may be appropriate for other locations.