Tsunami warning: Newzealand higher ground following earthquakes

 TSUNAMI WARNING LATEST

* Swarm of earthquakes in Pacific - including magnitude 8.1 quake in Kermadec Islands at 8.28am (NZT) - spark Civil Defence warnings.

* Tsunami warning for large parts of North Island coast - people near coast from the Bay of Islands to Whangārei, from Matata to Tolaga Bay, Great Barrier Island, and west coast of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Ahipara told to move immediately

* There are two different types of tsumani threat. Most of the country is under a beach and marine threat. But the parts where evacuations are taking place are under a land and marine threat.

* Evacuation orders "not done lightly" and on basis of watching tsunamis in Indonesia and Japan, official says. "We want people to take this seriously."

* 8.1 earthquake followed 7.4 shake at 6.41am and 7.3 quake off North Island coast at 2.27am

Full Details Coverage -

Thousand of people are gathered on hilltops around many parts of the North Island's coast this morning waiting to see if a tsunami will eventuate following a series of earthquakes this morning.

There's been mixed reaction to mass evacuations this morning, with many people walking calmly to the hills - while others rushing in panic and creating gridlock as hundreds of motorists try to flee city centres.

Parents quickly headed to daycares and schools to try and collect students as soon as evacuations alerts went of this morning. Many other children were taken by teachers and are in the process walking up their nearest hills, where many other people are already gathered.

And in some areas, like Tologa Bay, people have headed to the beach to take photographs following a series of large earthquakes which have triggered tsunami warnings for large parts of the North Island Coast.

The national emergency management agency is urging people not return to low-lying coastal areas until the all-clear is given by Civil Defence. They are also telling people to walk, run or cycle if possible to reduce the chance of getting stuck in traffic.

In Whangārei, traffic was heavy and the town centre was packed as people tried to evacuated

"Just as many people going into town as leaving it.

This is the EMERGENCY ALERT many New Zealanders just received on their mobile phones. The #Tsunami threat is real. We made it to high ground. I’ll keep you posted 

Picture source - Twitter official