One of Northland's new tsunami sirens is installed at Whangārei's Port Nikau. Photo: LDR / Susan Botting Photo: LDR / Susan Botting
Northland's newly upgraded tsunami siren network is due to be tested for the first time this weekend.
The Northland Regional Council said more than 80 new sirens would sound for one minute from 10am on Sunday, 6 April.
Once complete, the network would comprise 90 outdoor sirens in vulnerable coastal areas, from Mangawhai in the Kaipara District to Pukenui in the Far North.
The council said the new sirens could be monitored remotely, reducing the need for prolonged testing.
The old sirens would remain operational until the new network was fully functional but would not be tested this weekend.
According to the regional council, hearing a tsunami siren at other times did not necessarily mean the area had to be evacuated right away or even at all - unless the warning message specifically called on people to leave immediately.
Instead, anyone who heard a tsunami siren should seek more information about the level of threat, by turning on the radio or TV, or visiting the local Civil Defence social media page.
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