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Home Council News and information News archive Previous years 2017 We're helping Kāpiti get Tsunami ready - Door-knocking in Paraparaumu from Sunday 30 July

We're helping Kāpiti get Tsunami ready - Door-knocking in Paraparaumu from Sunday 30 July

Published 21 Jul 2017

A reminder for Paraparaumu residents who live in tsunami evacuation zones. For the next four Sundays – 30 July, 6 August, 13 August, 20 August – the Kāpiti Coast District Council will be door-knocking with help from Red Cross, Volunteer Kāpiti, WREMO and MCDEM to help Kāpiti get tsunami ready.

The November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake raised concerns about tsunami awareness and preparedness in Kāpiti and nationally.

Group Manager Corporate Services Wayne Maxwell says that it’s important to work together as a community to protect ourselves and be prepared.

“In Kāpiti there are over 8000 properties sitting in tsunami evacuation zones, and over 20,000 people living in those zones. We know from tsunami overseas that it’s important not to get complacent and that planning can save lives, so we want to help people get better prepared,” says Mr Maxwell.

“Research we carried out in February 2017 shows that around 20% of people in a zone don’t know they are. So if you’re in a tsunami evacuation zone you can expect a knock on the door during the weekend in the coming months. It’ll be our Council reps and volunteers dropping by to hand over some detailed information about tsunami – the warning signs, and what to do and where to go if one hits the Coast. If you’re not at home, we’ll pop the info in your letterbox,” says Mr Maxwell.

The Council will also host a drop-in info session between 6.30-8pm on Tuesday 29 August at the Paraparaumu Beach Bowling Club to answer any questions and have a community conversation about warning systems in Kāpiti.

“We know that there was confusion after the November earthquake within our community around whether or not people living in evacuation zones should evacuate, and that some were concerned about the absence of tsunami warning sirens,” says Mr Maxwell.

“These sessions are a chance for the community to come and talk to us about what’s in place, and the pros and cons of different options we could consider in the future.”

Updated 4 April 2019