Start of daylight saving prompts tsunami siren testing
Sunday (September 26) marks the beginning of daylight saving and is the day for testing of Christchurch's coastal tsunami sirens.
People near the coast should expect to hear tsunami sirens sounds for up to two minutes at 11am on Sunday.
“People shouldn’t be alarmed to hear the sirens going off and don’t need to evacuate," Christchurch City Council
acting head of Civil Defence and Emergency Management Rebecca Newton says.
"The testing of the sirens though is a good reminder to people in coastal and riverside areas that they should have an evacuation plan in place so that everyone in the family knows what to do and where to go if there is a tsunami evacuation.
“While we are likely to get advanced warning of a distance-source tsunami triggered by a large earthquake overseas, if a tsunami is triggered by a very large earthquake closer to New Zealand people may need to evacuate quickly so they should have an emergency bag at the ready."
In the event of a local or regional source tsunami, there may not be enough time to activate the warning sirens. In those circumstances, the most important warning is the earthquake itself, which is why people are encouraged to adhere to the national tsunami message – ‘Long or strong, get gone’, Newton says.
People can check Christchurch City Council's interactive online map to find out if by they live or work in a tsunami evacuation zone.
Poll: Canterbury is thriving on paper... but are you seeing evidence of Canterbury's improving economy?
As reported in the Press, Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman recently gave a shout-out to our region, calling Canterbury a "stand-out" for how we recover from tough times. With tech firms growing and exporters investing, the business side of things is looking bright!
👉 But we know that "business growth" doesn't always mean the weekly shop gets any cheaper. While the city expands, many families feel like they’re just trying to keep their heads above water.
We want to know: With the business buzz of 2026, do you feel like things are finally looking up for your household, or does it still feel like a climb?
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0% Yes
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0% No
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100% In some areas ...
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
Do you think you know the answer?
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Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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