Evidence a tsunami hit the Canterbury coastline following Monday's earthquake has highlighted the importance of evacuations, a University of Canterbury researcher says.
Water flooded 140 metres inland south of Kaikoura, damaging one home at Little Pigeon Bay.
Sunmer, Redcliffs, Port Levy and Pigeon Bay locals also reported tsunami waves striking the coast without causing damage.
The tsunamis hit different areas at different times on Monday morning, indicating the earthquake and aftershocks caused the waves.
Dr Matthew Hughes, who has studied the impacts of Christchurch's 2010 and 2011 quakes, said because tsunamis travelled in complex paths, it was difficult to predict when the events would cause damage.
