5 Oct 2009

Independent review of official tsunami response

5:01 pm on 5 October 2009

Prime Minister John Key says an independent review will look at the response by New Zealand Civil Defence to last week's Pacific tsunami warning.

The response was characterised by delayed and patchy communications, with key agencies left scrambling to confirm facts about the tsunami threat.

Mr Key says the Minister of Civil Defence has agreed that an independent review should be undertaken, with a focus on how public information was managed.

The reviewer and the terms of reference will be announced shortly.