Date: 30 September, 2009 UPDATE 4 (1650 hrs)

Update 4 –TSUNAMI WARNING CANCELLED, BUT CAUTION STILL ADVISED

Civil Defence officials say Northlanders should continue to be wary of possible issues from higher than usual waves generated by today’s large Samoan earthquake.

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency late this afternoon officially cancelled a national tsunami warning for New Zealand issued in the wake of this morning’s 8.3 magnitude earthquake off Samoa.

Clive Manley, Group Controller for the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group, says small tsunami waves of up to 30 centimetres high were recorded along Northland’s east coast earlier today. These had coincided with low tide and had little or no impact.

However, he repeated his advice of earlier today for people to continue a precautionary approach for the rest of the day – and in particular around the next east coast high tide due to take place about 5.45pm.

“Despite the warning now being cancelled, it’s possible there will still be some unusual wave action around the Northland coast and we’re recommending people in low lying coastal areas take this into account.”

ENDS

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