Tsunami Evacuation

Tsunami evacuation zone maps show you where you should go to be safe during a tsunami, and the areas you need to move out of if there’s a tsunami warning.

The maps show 'blue zones' that should be evacuated in a tsunami event and are based on computer modelling from Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly GNS) that predicts how far inland tsunami waves could reach, depending on their size and source.

With this data, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Emergency Management Bay of Plenty worked alongside local councils across the rohe (region) to create tsunami evacuation zones for communities that also consider aspects such as evacuation constraints, practicalities and safety, roading, population density and social factors.

Thanks to new modelling and data, the maps were updated in April 2026 - some areas changed quite a bit while in other areas the zone only saw minor changes. We encourage everyone to check the new evacuation maps to see if there have been changes in their area.

A tsunami can be triggered by large submarine or coastal earthquakes, underwater landslides, large coastal cliff or lakeside landslides or underwater volcanic eruptions.

The coastal areas of the Western Bay could be inundated by a tsunami.

In the event of a big tsunami generated near our coastline, there might not be time for official warnings before the first wave hits – that’s why we say ‘long or strong, get gone’ and why people should act immediately and not wait for official warnings. Natural warning signs of a tsunami, along side a long or strong earthquake include sudden changes in sea level, or unusual noises, like a jet plane, coming from the ocean.

Tsunami: Do you know what to do?