Final update: 1:58pm Friday 1 August
UPDATE AS AT 2:00 PM NZST 1 August 2025.
The National Advisory issued following the 8.8 earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA RUSSIA at 2025-07-30 11:25 AM New Zealand Standard Time is cancelled.
Tsunami activity around the New Zealand coastlines has significantly decreased.
However, there may still be strong and unusual currents and these may continue until Monday. We advise the New Zealand public to exercise caution in and around the ocean and estuaries over the weekend.
Update 8:00pm
UPDATE AS AT 08:00pm 31 July 2025.
Please note, due to rebounding tsunami activity from South America, the east coast of both the North and South Islands and the Chatham Islands remain under a National Advisory, and are likely to remain so overnight.
The remainder of the West Coast of the South Island and Cook Strait that remain under a Beach and Marine Tsunami threat are assessed as only just reaching the threshold for a Beach and Marine Tsunami threat.
A further update will be provided at approximately 08:00am tomorrow.
PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR AREAS STILL UNDER THREAT
We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 8.8 earthquake near OFF THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA RUSSIA at 2025-07-30 11:25 AM.
Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.
People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
AREAS UNDER THREAT:
The West Coast of the North Island from CAPE REINGA to AHIPARA.
The East and South Coasts of the North Island from CAPE REINGA to MAKARA including Whangarei, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, the East Coast of Auckland, Waiheke Island, Waitemata Harbour, Tauranga, Whakatane, Opotiki, Gisborne, Napier, Lake Ferry, the Wellington south coast and Wellington Harbour.
The West Coast of the South Island from FAREWELL SPIT to PUNAKAIKI including Westport.
The North and East Coasts of the South Island from FAREWELL SPIT to the CATLINS including Nelson, Picton, the Marlborough Sounds, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula.
The South Coast of the South Island from PUYSEGUR POINT to THE CATLINS including Invercargill.
STEWART ISLAND and the CHATHAM ISLANDS.
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:
STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS
People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.
There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event. We are advising people to:
- Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
- Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
- Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
- Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.
Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.
This National Advisory has been issued following an assessment of information available. The situation may change as new information becomes available. Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz
Update 6:00pm
National Advisory: Tsunami activity – expect strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore
Thursday 31 Jul – last updated 3:27 pm
UPDATE AS FOLLOWS
The areas under the National Advisory and experiencing strong and unusual currents have reduced. Please refer to the attached map.
Please note, due to rebounding tsunami activity from South America, the east coast of both the North and South Islands and the Chatham Islands remain under a National Advisory, and are likely to remain so overnight.
The West Coast of the South Island, and Cook Strait, meet the threshold for the National Advisory to remain in place however, the tsunami activity threat is at the low end of the scale.
Strong and unusual currents on the eastern side of New Zealand may be present for another 24 hours.
The next update is expected around 7.30pm this evening, and these areas will be reviewed and updated at this time.
We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 8.8 earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA RUSSIA at 2025-07-30 11:25 AM.
Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.
People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
AREAS UNDER THREAT:
The West Coast of the North Island from CAPE REINGA to AHIPARA, the East and South Coasts of the North Island from CAPE REINGA to MAKARA including Whangarei.
GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, the East Coast of Auckland, Waiheke Island, Waitemata Harbour, Tauranga, Whakatane, Opotiki, Gisborne, Napier, Lake Ferry, the Wellington South Coast and Wellington Harbour.
ALL COASTAL AREAS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND and STEWART ISLAND, and the CHATHAM ISLANDS.
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:
STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS
People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.
There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event. We are advising people to:
- Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
- Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
- Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
- Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.
Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.
This National Advisory has been issued following an assessment of information available. The situation may change as new information becomes available. Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz
Update 06:23am
- Update from the New Zealand National Emergency Management Agency:
Update 01:05am
- Japan has lifted all warnings, there are Alerts in place. No noticable impacts were experienced in Japan.
- Final updates from Civil Defence for Thursday:
We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following the magnitude 8.8 earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA RUSSIA at 2025-07-30 11:25 AM.
Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.
People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
AREAS UNDER THREAT:
ALL COASTAL AREAS OF THE NORTH ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, THE SOUTH ISLAND, STEWART ISLAND, and the CHATHAM ISLANDS
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:
STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS
People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.
There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event. We are advising people to:
- Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
- Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
- Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
- Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.
Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.
This National Advisory has been issued following an assessment of information available. The situation may change as new information becomes available. Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz
Update12:01am
The tsunami watch has been cancelled by the Fiji National Disaster Management Office as the tsunami waves have now passed Fiji.
Update 11:16pm
Update 10:25pm
Waves over 2 metres are expected in the Marquesas Islands and parts of French Polynesia.”
Update 10:00
Indonesia has updated its warning, and it is now an advisory only.
Update 9:27pm
This evening the BBC have provided us a special link to stream their TV or radio service during the Tsunami alert process (given the lack of news services in New Zealand, they are offering the best service at this time with constant coverage from across the Pacific.
Update 9:04pm
- The BBC has reported that the Tsunami Warning that was issued in Hawaii has now been downgraded to an Advisory
- Nearly 2 million people have been asked to evacuate in Japan
- California officials have requested people to stay away from the coast\
Update 6:31pm
MetService New Zealand has issued a warning:
New Zealand Coastal Situation
A Tsunami marine advisory is in effect for ALL marine coastal areas including Stewart Island and Chatham Islands. Please refer to https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/ for details and updates. Showery westerlies dominate today while a front moves away from the Bay of Plenty. Tomorrow a deep low to the east of the country directs strong southerlies to the east of both islands and a front moves onto the lower South Island late evening. On Friday, a couple of weak fronts embedded in a southerly flow bring showers to mainly eastern parts of northern and central New Zealand, while a ridge of high pressure builds over the South Island from the Tasman Sea. Over the weekend, the ridge remains over the South Island, while east to southeast winds bring showers to eastern parts of the North Island.
Update at 6:21pm
As at 6pm this evening, the Geological Services Division of the Mineral Resource Department of Fiji are putting out a warning. To all of our boating friends who are cruising across the pacific, please read on:
Update at 5:05pm
A warning has been issued, not nationwide (for instance, in Cambridge, there was no alert), but in Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula.
Initial Report
New Zealand’s entire coastline — from Northland to Stewart Island and out to the Chathams — is under a National Advisory for tsunami activity, following a powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula earlier today. At 8.7 magnitude this is one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded.
Although New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have warned of tsunami activity from 0.8 to 1.0 metres, if you’re a boatie, liveaboard, or spending time around marinas, rivers, or beaches this evening — this is your call to be extra careful. NEMA has recommended that no-one should be out on the water.
Surge activity due around midnight
NEMA expects the first tsunami-related surges and strong currents to reach Lottin Point, East Cape (situated in Hicks Bay, East Cape, New Zealand, approximately 120km from Opotiki and 198km from Gisborne), at around midnight NZST tonight (Wednesday 30 July).
From that point, unusual sea behaviour, powerful currents, and unpredictable shoreline surges may continue for several hours across the country. This is not a traditional wave-based tsunami — it’s a series of tidal disturbances that can surge in and out rapidly, catching even experienced skippers off guard.
This advisory affects all coastal areas of:
- The North Island
- The South Island
- Great Barrier Island
- Stewart Island
- The Chatham Islands
“People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats and move onto shore,” NEMA advises. “Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.”
While coastal flooding is not expected, these strong, surging currents can easily swamp tenders, drag vessels from their moorings, or sweep people off piers and rocks.
This advisory is based on the best information currently available, but it could change quickly. NEMA stresses the situation is ongoing and updates will be provided as new data is confirmed.
You can find the latest official information at www.civildefence.govt.nz or by tuning into local radio or TV broadcasts. If you’re on the water or near it, keep a VHF radio handy and monitor Channel 16.
