Northland tsunami siren replacement project

The current Northland tsunami siren network is made up of over 200 sirens located along Northland’s coastline. This network is an initial warning system to alert coastal communities of distant source Tsunami threats. The sirens are owned by the local district councils and managed by the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group on behalf of all Northlanders. The current siren network is coming to the end of its expected life and no longer meets the latest safety standards.

Northland has over 3000 kilometres of coastline, all of which is at risk of tsunamis. These rare but devastating events can cause significant loss of life and destruction. Over the last century, tsunamis have claimed more than 260,000 lives globally, surpassing other natural hazards as a significant potential threat to Northland. Having an effective early warning system, including tsunami sirens, is an important tool for ensuring successful evacuations of at-risk areas of Northland’s coast. These systems provide timely alerts, allowing communities to take necessary precautions and evacuate to higher ground. By investing in such systems, Northland can enhance preparedness, reduce vulnerability, and save lives.

To help provide more effective warnings to Northlanders for tsunami threats and to meet the new siren guidelines, the joint project was initiated by all four Northland councils, to replace the existing sirens with new models that are more effective, resilient, and compliant with the new safety standards.

The project is set to progressively replace the current sirens with 94 new sirens – starting in 2023 and rolling out over the next couple of years.

The new sirens are quite different from the existing ones.

They:

• provide much greater sound coverage
• provide pre-programmed voice warning messages and multi-tone siren sounds
• can be activated via cell phone networks and satellite
• have a back-up solar power system.

As they are independent of the power grid, they will also be on their own poles, and because they have greater sound coverage, we will require fewer sirens in fewer, more effective locations.

Each siren is made up of:

• 2.7m2 concrete foundation to support a
• 8m steel pole (like a power pole)
• A Siren, which is approximately 1.15m to 1.8 High depending on the type
• Two x 100w solar panels
• Control box

The Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group has been working with the siren suppliers – HSS Engineering – to identify the best locations for the new sirens that will provide the best coverage across the region.

There are a couple of new areas covered but this project is primarily about replacing and upgrading our current network. Existing areas will see improved coverage due to the new sirens.

The Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group prioritizes public safety when selecting siren sites. We’re also working to minimize any potential visual and environmental impacts on our communities.

As each siren is part of a network, sites are strategically chosen to ensure effective sound coverage and early warnings against Tsunami, not only for that community, but for the entire region – as moving one site can create sound gaps and make the network as a whole less effective.

Once installed, these sirens will be like an other utility pole or streetlight, but this one is helping to keep our coastal communities safe. 

For a detailed look at what goes into site selection, the table of key site considerations can be found below: 

The areas that the new sirens’ warning sounds will cover can be found in the Proposed new siren coverage - map and locations section, along with the approximate location of each of the new sites.

Timeline

The below map shows the locations proposed for the new tsunami sirens. The locations of the current tsunami sirens and evacuation zones can be found on our evacuation map.

• Expand the Legend by clicking on the >> icon at the top-left of the map.
• Use the search bar at the top-right to find an address or location.

 The approximate locations of the new sirens can be found in the table below: 

If you want to know more about this project, head over to our frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.

For any questions about a particular site, email info@nrc.govt.nz with the subject ‘Northland Tsunami Siren Replacement Project’.