Mercury Bay Area School will run its annual tsunami evacuation exercise on the first Wednesday of March.

More than 1,000 staff and students will take part in the exercise that is based on science taken from the Thames-Coromandel District Council's 2011 Eastern Coromandel Tsunami Strategy.

Mercury Bay Area School will run its annual tsunami evacuation exercise on Wednesday, March 2. Photo: File

Principal John Wright says given the potential risk of tsunami, the annual exercise is to ensure all students and staff are aware of the emergency plan.

'This helps us iron our any difficulties that may arise, and most of all it helps build our confidence,” explain John.

'It is from the [first rendezvous point], in the first instance, that parents can connect with their children and this is a crucial component of our safety plan.”

Both Thames Coromandel and Waikato Regional councils understands there is a significant risk of tsunami for Whitianga due to the shape of Mercury Bay.

For the past five years both councils have worked to educate and learn from with the Mercury Bay community, and also plan to fund a further review of the tsunami modelling.

WRC Regional Hazards team leader Adam Munro says they appreciate the willingness of the school to recognise the risk and proactively plan for it.

'The Japan tsunami event fundamentally changed the science of tsunami modelling and we need to bring our thinking about Whitianga into line with what we've learned,” says Adam.

The tsunami modelling review for Whitianga should be completed by the end of 2016.

The Mercury Bay Area School will be among those given access to the new findings so they can compare the new science with the lessons learned from the school's annual evacuation exercises.

'As always we are keen to update our procedures in the light of quality information and our experiences,” says John.

Mercury Bay Area School's tsunami plan evacuation exercise takes place on Wednesday, March 2.

To view and download the community response plan for Whitianga visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's website.