NZ tsunami exercise under way

A tsunami assembly area sign in Northland. Photo / Northern Advocate

An exercise to test New Zealand's ability to respond to a massive tsunami got under way this morning.

More than 100 agencies nationwide are taking part in Exercise Tangaroa, to trial the newly-updated national tsunami advisory and warning plan.

The revised plan makes use of new scientific modelling from GNS Science that allows for distinct threat warnings to be issued for 43 coastal zones.

"Previously we have not had the science to give this important regional detail," Civil Defence emergency management director John Hamilton said.

"It is a good example of how science can help response to an emergency."

Exercise Tangaroa - named for the god of the sea, rivers, lakes and all life within them - began with a simulated Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre alert that a major tsunami may have been created by an earthquake off the coast of South America.

National warnings, clearly labelled as simulation messages, have been issued by the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management to the National Crisis Management Centre beneath the Beehive and agencies throughout the country.

Participants include all 16 regional civil defence emergency management groups, most local authorities, central government departments, emergency services, scientific agencies, welfare organisations, utilities, the transport sector and some media.

The exercise will end when the "tsunami" reaches New Zealand at 7pm.

- NZPA