The 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura earthquake early on Monday morning has presented civil defence managers with their biggest challenge since the Christchurch disasters. Different civil defence jurisdictions responded unevenly. The emergence from the Kaikoura earthquake of a real tsunami risk adds to the urgency of resolving this uncertainty quickly. Equally the advice that an earthquake is in itself the tsunami warning falls short of the best that a community can expect. It is a responsibility of the civil defence authorities to ensure that everyone understands the tsunami warning system, and that it works the same for all.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 16, 2016 16:23 UTC