Chris's blog

Bobby wants to meet Amanda again 0274928272 bobbywallaceacworth@hotmail.com

Tune between 10am-12pm to hear Tony Sears, Waiheke's civil defence co-ordinator tell us what it's like to be woken at 2.30am and told a tsunmai is on the way.

It was a bit embarrassing (and quite stressful) when our transmitter covering Onetangi, Ostend and Palm Beach failed last Sunday, the day there was a tsunami warning. We had a whole series of failures triggered, it seems, by ants. Trying to repair a radio transmitter on Waiheke on a Sunday is problematic - where do you buy power supplies, recievers and back up batteries? Since we're all volunteers with jobs and families it's taken a couple of days to get all the equipment together and set up. But tonight, by torchlight, we re-commissioned the transmitter and we're once again broadcasting on 88.3fm. The signal needs a little adjustment, we'll get that sorted out in the next couple of days. Our apologies and thanks for your patience.

This is a waiheke Radio tsunami warning bulletin. A tsunami was generated from the 8.8 magnitude quake in Chile yesterday.

The Onetangi Beach Races are postponed until March 14. People are advised to saty off all Waiheke beaches.

Civil Defence have assessed that a tsunmai threat exists for New Zealand.  The first wave to arrive in New Zealand this morning. The first wave may arrive later and may not be the largest. Strong currents and unusual tidal effects may continue for several hours.

Scientific advice is that a marine threat (i.e. threat to beach and small boats corresponding to wave heights less than 1 metre) exists for the entire east coasts of the North and South Islands . 

Wave height refers to maximum water level relevant to the normal sea level at the beach. This does not take tides into account. Based on historical events it is expected that the greatest wave heights will occur between 6 and 12 hours after the initial arrivals.

The National Crisis Management Centre in Wellington has been activated. The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) and scientific advisors are closely monitoring the situation.

People in coastal areas should:

   1. Stay off beaches
   2. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities)
   3. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends
   4. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates
   5. Follow instructions of your local Civil Defence authorities

The Onetangi Beach Races are postponed until March 14.

Shirin Brown is in the seat this week talking to:

10.15 - Meriel Watts on Spraying