The Port of Auckland was evacuated on 27 February after the
tsunami generated by the massive Chilean earthquake sparked a Civil Defence warning for the entire New Zealand east coast.

The first waves about one metre high rolled ashore on New
Zealand's Chatham Islands around 12 hours after the quake, having raced across the Pacific Ocean at the speed of a jet aircraft.

All shipping was moved to deeper water to ride out any potential threat.

Strong tidal surges continued for most of the next 24 hours
along the coast but no damage was reported. Civil Defence downgraded the warning in the afternoon, all vessels given the all-clear to return to their berths.

Among the vessels evacuated was the cruise ship Dawn
Princess, the car carrier Medea and the general cargo ship Tasman Chief.

Supplied by Trevor Coppock/Seapixonline