Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued by MetService at 01:30 pm Thursday 26th December 2024 Valid until: 09:00 pm Thursday 26th Dec 2024 For Waikato, Waitomo, Coromandel Peninsula, and western parts of Bay of Plenty and Rotorua (from about Whakatane westwards), a few of the thunderstorms may be severe between 2pm and 9pm today (Boxing Day) with localised downpours of 25-40mm/h (or possibly more). Update at 1:30pm Thursday - Watch area expanded to include all of Coromandel Peninsula. Scattered thunderstorms have developed over the northern North Island this afternoon, and are expected to continue into the evening, with localised heavy rain and hail.

There is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the magnitude 7.3 VANUATU earthquake at 2024-12-17 2:47 PM. The National Emergency Management Agency has assessed the information with the assistance of scientific advisors. Based on current information, the initial assessment is that the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to New Zealand. The National Emergency Management Agency has issued a National Advisory: No Tsunami Threat to New Zealand message to all relevant local civil defence authorities, emergency services and other agencies. Only messages issued by the National Emergency Management Agency represent the official warning status for New Zealand. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center messages do not represent the official warning status for New Zealand.