Coastal parts of New Zealand, including Tauranga, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki, are under a beach and marine threat from the magnitude 8.8 Kamchatka earthquake, Russia.

The National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) earlier said a magnitude 8.0 quake struck off the coast of Kamchatka, Russia at 11.25am (NZ time) and any tsunami created by the quake would take at least 12 hours to reach New Zealand.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has now upgraded the magnitude to 8.8. It is the only quake over magnitude 8 this year so far, and the first of this size since 2021.

BREAKING: Tsunami waves begin to flood town in Russia's Severo-Kurilsk

pic.twitter.com/yx4sIYduQO

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 30, 2025

In its latest update, Nema said New Zealand coastal areas were forecast to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges.

"Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore," Nema said in a statement.

"People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries."

A map of areas of New Zealand which are under a beach and marine threat from the magnitude 8.8 Kamchatka earthquake, Russia. Image / Nema

AREAS UNDER THREAT: 

The West Coast of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Raglan including the West Coast of Auckland and Manukau Harbour, and from Hawera to Whanganui, the East and South Coasts of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Mākara including Whangārei, Great Barrier Island, the East Coast of Auckland, Waiheke Island, Waitematā Harbour, Tauranga, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki, Gisborne, Napier, Lake Ferry, the Wellington South Coast and Wellington Harbour, the West Coast of the South Island from Farewell Spit to Milford Sound including Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika, the top of the South Island from Farewell Spit to Port Underwood including Nelson, Picton and the Marlborough Sounds, the East and South Coasts of the South Island from the Clarence River to Puysegur Point including Kaikōura, Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula and Invercargill, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands. 

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:

STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS

People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.

There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. 

Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event.  We are advising people to:

Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.

Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.

Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.

Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.

The first tsunami activity causing these strong currents and surges may reach New Zealand in the areas around No Information at approximately No Information New Zealand Daylight/Standard Time and No Information Chatham Islands Daylight/Standard Time. This may be later and the first tsunami activity may not be the most significant.

Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.

This National Advisory has been issued following an assessment of information available. The situation may change as new information becomes available. Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz