New Zealanders have being warned to stay away from coastal areas on many parts of the east of the country as a tsunami alert has been activated in the wake of the earthquake in Chile Thursday.
The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) issued a tsunami warning for East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel and Banks Peninsula.
People in the coastal areas have been warned to stay out of the water, including the sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities, and to stay off beaches and shore areas.
They have also been warned against sightseeing.
The tsunami warning would remain in effect until a cancellation message was issued by MCDEM.