http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,11964-5730449,00.html
 
04/05/2006
NewstalkZB
Civil Defence is defending its handling of the tsunami alert this morning.

The warning was that a tsunami could have hit Gisborne at 6.20 am was issued after an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale was recorded off Tonga's coast.

National controller Mike O'Leary says an evacuation order was not issued because the initial information did not warrant it.

"We determined as a result of the information received that one wasn't required and as soon as possible after that we then issued information to the public about what was occurring."

The first advisory was received by newsrooms at 6:53 am, more than two hours after the initial alert from the United States.

Councils from around the country have criticised New Zealand officials for being too slow to release information and coastal residents in particular are angry about the lack of communication from Civil Defence.

Di Sinclair from Taupo Bay says they were only alerted when a Dunedin woman rang her sister who lives in the Far North settlement. She, in turn, alerted other locals.

"We have a 'phone tree' that we ring around and we then went around and made sure everyone was awake and got them out and up the hill."

Ms Sinclair says it is a disgrace that they heard nothing from the Far North District Council about the alert.

There are no reports of significant damage in the Pacific region. People in Tonga say the earthquake lasted up to 30 seconds. Electricity supplies went off for about 30 minutes, but have since been restored. There are no reports of anyone being injured.

The Civil Defence Website has information on tsunami risks in New Zealand.