3 Jun 2011

Tsunami sirens tested

6:31 am on 3 June 2011

Whangarei coast dwellers hoping for a holiday sleep-in are in for a rude awakening as the council tests its new tsunami sirens.

The sirens have been installed from Bland Bay to Mangawhai.

Whangarei Council spokesperson Ann Midson says the loud noise will start at 9.20am on Saturday and continue for ten minutes.

The sirens will then flash blue lights, and sound again for a couple of minutes at 10am.

Ms Midson says in some countries the tsunami sirens mean head for the hills but in New Zealand, they mean people should turn on the radio for information about what is happening and what to do next.