Civil Defence response to be reviewed

A independent review is to be held into the Civil Defence response to the Samoan tsunami, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

The emergency response body issued a tsunami warning about an hour after the 8.3 magnitude quake struck near Samoa just before 7am last Wednesday.

It downgraded that to a threat advisory shortly after 11am.

However, Wellington International Airport was overlooked in the alert despite it being lifeline utility.

Northland seismologist Chris Buckley said the information put out by authorities about the tsunami was confusing and potentially dangerous.

The warning was downgraded just as the wave action was getting started in the north.

TVNZ's Breakfast programme was also giving conflicting reports from different people.

Today, Mr Key said he was not prepared to "sit back and rely on the fact that everything is ok".

It was an important part of New Zealand's crisis management and there were some "clearly identifiable problems", he said.

Civil Defence Minister John Carter had agreed to an independent review, Mr Key said.

Details of the review would be released soon.

Civil Defence would also conduct an internal review.

Details covered in reviews will include the activation of the national crisis management centre, public information management and the content and clarity of advisories, Mr Key said.

- NZPA