While the National Crisis Management Centre is downgrading the Tsunami alert to an advisory, restricted waterways around Banks Peninsula could still experience surges and people near the water should continue to exercise caution, Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management advises.

Special caution should continue to be exercised around restricted waterways, such as harbours, inlets and river mouths. High tide is scheduled for around 5pm in Lyttelton Harbour.

We encourage people to continue to be aware that may be changes in sea levels around beaches, river mouths, inlets, jetties, wharfs, and bays. Earlier advice to stay away from river mouths is still in place, due to the unpredictable nature of the sea around these areas. Strong currents and surges, particularly nearer to the shore, may affect boaties.

For further information contact Bob Upton, Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Controller, 027 270 2762 or Katherine Trought at 027 531 3261. For more specific information regarding Banks Peninsula and the Christchurch area, please contact Kay Carston on 027 637 7916.