Cruise ship evacuated from port as tsunami threat looms

Auckland ferries have been called off as a tsunami threatens to cause surges and unusual currents around New Zealand. Photo / Greg Bowker

Commercial ships in Auckland's seaport, including a 2000-passenger cruise ship, have been evacuated to deep harbour as a tsunami approaches.

Cruise ship Dawn Princess, which has a capacity of 1990 passengers, and other large commercial vessels have been moved to deep water east of Fergusson and outside Rangitoto Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Dawn Princess passengers have been dropped off on shore until the ship returns later in the day, once an all clear is given by Civil Defence.

Port services general manager Wayne Mills said the tsunami threat was not great but a cautious approach had been taken.

Meanwhile, more than 100 residents in Hicks Bay, on the East Cape, have abandoned their homes to watch the tsunami arrive from higher ground.

Hicks Bay Motel Lodge owner John Campbell said locals were expecting the surges that had hit the Chatham Islands to arrive and had gathered at the motel, 400 metres above sea level, to wait in safety.

Tides were receding and there were no signs of a surge yet, he said.

Civil Defence emergency management has reported a 0.2-metre wave recorded at East Cape.

Auckland ferries have been called off as a tsunami threatens to cause surges and unusual currents around New Zealand.

Waiheke ferries at 10am and harbour cruises at 10.30am are among cancellations announced at Auckland's ferry terminal.

Onetangi Beach Races on Waiheke Island, which had been scheduled for today, has been postponed until March 14.

About 50 homes have been evacuated in Gisborne as Civil Defence prepares for a tsunami that had been due to have struck by 8.29am.

Jon Davies, from Gisborne Civil Defence, said there had been strange tidal flows on the coast but no waves or surge had hit yet.

People evacuated from their homes were told to stay away until further information was known, Mr Davies said.

Boats on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour have been warned to head out to open seas as a tsunami approaches.

Boaties near Waiheke Island reported they had been told to get out to open seas.

Surf lifesaving clubs in the Bay of Plenty are hurrying to get people off beaches all along the coast but they say some surfers are refusing to heed warnings and heading out to catch the tsunami.

Mount Maunganui lifeguards reported at 9.30am that beaches had been cleared by three lifesaving clubs working all morning up and down the coast.

But some surfers were heading out and boats remained off-shore.

In Whakatane, coastal campsites have been told to evacuate and a welfare centre set up at the town's War Memorial Hall.