A tsunami evacuation zone is an area that you may need to evacuate from if you feel a long rolling earthquake that lasts more than a minute, or a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand up, or if there is an official tsunami warning. You may be asked to stay out of the evacuation zone for many hours.
There are three tsunami evacuation zones for Christchurch city and Banks Peninsula.
Red evacuation zone: Long or strong, get gone
This is an area that is most likely to be affected by a tsunami. It includes the sea, estuaries, rivers, beaches and harbours. A tsunami of any size could cause strong currents and surges in the water.
You can expect to evacuate the red zone several times in your lifetime.
You should leave this zone immediately, if:
- You experience a long or strong earthquake
- You see sudden sea-level changes or hear unusual noises coming from the sea
- You receive an official warning from Civil Defence Emergency Management
Official warnings may be given through an Emergency Mobile Alert to your phone, on this website (ccc.govt.nz), radio, television, or social media. If there is an announcement to evacuate the zone you are in, follow the instructions immediately.
If you hear the tsunami warning sirens, check any of the above sources for further information.
Stay out of this zone until you are told by an official source that it’s safe to go back.
Orange evacuation zone: Long or strong, get gone
This is an area that is less likely to be affected by a tsunami. This includes areas on land that could be flooded in a large tsunami.
You can expect to evacuate the orange zone a few times in your lifetime.
You should leave this zone immediately, if:
- You experience a long or strong earthquake
- You see sudden sea-level changes or hear unusual noises coming from the sea
- You receive an official warning from Civil Defence Emergency Management
Official warnings may be given through an Emergency Mobile Alert to your phone, on this website (ccc.govt.nz), radio, television, or social media. If there is an announcement to evacuate the zone you are in, follow the instructions immediately.
If you hear the tsunami warning sirens, check any of the above sources for further information
Stay out of this zone until you are told by an official source that it’s safe to go back.
Yellow evacuation zone
You do not need to leave this zone if you feel a long or strong earthquake.
This is an area that is least likely to be affected by tsunami, but could be flooded or isolated in a very large tsunami.
It is possible this zone will be evacuated sometime in your lifetime, however it is unlikely.
You should leave this zone immediately if you receive an official warning from Civil Defence Emergency Management.
Official warnings may be given through an Emergency Mobile Alert to your phone, on this website (ccc.govt.nz), radio, television, or social media. If there is an announcement to evacuate the zone you are in, follow the instructions immediately.
If you hear the tsunami warning sirens, check any of the above sources for further information.
Stay out of this zone until you are told by an official source that it’s safe to go back.
Note: In most other parts of New Zealand, yellow zones need to be evacuated in a long or strong earthquake. You should check local tsunami evacuation zones when spending time on the coast.
No zone
This area is outside the tsunami evacuation zones. If you’re in this area:
- You don’t need to evacuate in a long or strong earthquake
- You don’t need to evacuate during an official tsunami warning from Civil Defence Emergency Management
- You may wish to open your home to family or friends who need to evacuate from a tsunami evacuation zone.
The tsunami evacuation zones were determined by hazard scientists and emergency managers and reflect our best knowledge as at November 2020.
As research about earthquakes and tsunami risk continue, and further modelling work develops, it is possible that the zones could change. This page will contain the latest information.
As research about earthquakes and tsunami risk continue, and further modelling work develops, it is possible that the zones could change. This page will contain the latest information.