Most unaware of tsunami warning

Despite a tsunami warning for the entire country, many New Zealanders were going about their usual Sunday morning activities, blissfully unaware of the danger.

On Auckland's North Shore people spoken to were unaware of the warning, which was sparked by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile last night.

Several boaties who were about to head out were alarmed at the prospect of a metre-high wave hitting the east coast and were reconsidering their day on the water.

At Milford Beach two women who were about to set off on a walk along the coast to Takapuna were apparently unperturbed about the warning and did not change their plans.

"I've got my flippers," said one of the women.

The tide in Auckland was very high shortly after daybreak and many houses on beaches and in the east coast bays were likely to feel the impact of a metre-high wave if it hits Auckland.

However it appears the warning had not reached many people and there were still boats being launched.

On a bay north of Milford a man was fishing off a rocky outcrop.

At Whitianga a resident said that a warning siren had gone off, but residents didn't know what it was, so stayed put.

In Gisborne a voluntary evacuation was underway of residents at Midway and Waikanae beaches, but in Napier stall-holders were setting up their Sunday market on the foreshore.

They said they preferred to wait until they had heard what had happened in the Chathams before packing up and moving inland.

In the Chathams people were being moved to higher ground.

Maryann Absolum, of Auckland said her sister in the Chathams had been in contact with family in Wellington since 2am.

"I think everybody's up and alerted. They've been up at the council phoning every household and the warning sirens have gone so everyone should have moved to higher ground," she said.

"I think 5am the sirens went and they were on the move to higher ground. I do know my family has moved to higher ground."

The guests at the Waitangi Hotel in the Chathams were alerted at 3.30am and moved the a nearby marae.

Residents of a camping ground on the foreshore in the eastern Bay of Plenty, have been told they can return, said Alex Knowles of the Ohope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, near Whakatane.

Police had told the campers to evacuate about 5.30am, Mr Knowles said.

"So we went around and evacuated the whole park. Around 7am they downgraded it."

The campers had not yet returned, he said.

"We told them all to go up the hill, so by the time we got the downgrade, they'd all gone."

- NZPA