However, the Ministry warned there was still a likelihood of surges and rapid sea level changes in New Zealand following a massive earthquake in Chile which killed at least 300 people. The surges could continue for up to 24 hours after the initial wave arrivals.
"Wave heights could be larger than what we have currently experienced but within the threat levels and wave height estimates that have been previously forecast," it said in its latest statement.
Surges have been reported at beaches around the country, including in Northland, East Cape, Canterbury, Otago and Chatham Islands.
Strong currents were still expected in harbours and restricted waterways such as estuaries and river mouths while there was still a possibility of surges between one and three metres at the Chatham Islands and Banks Peninsula.
"This represents risks to people in boats and on beaches for coastal communities in the east coast of the North and South Island and particularly Chatham Islands and Banks Peninsula," national Civil Defence said.
Tsunami expert and Canterbury University emeritus professor of coastal studies Bob Kirk said based on the first two tsunamis in Lyttelton harbour today, a third was likely around 5pm, which is high tide.
The first tsunami was "of the order of 2m" in height. If it had hit at high tide it would have caused extensive flooding along the coast, around the Avon-Heathcote estuary, and in river mouths.
"That first wave is not chicken feed at all, that's a big one. If you were to mentally translate that to the. . .same position with the predicted high tide you can see 1m 60 or so of water there that would be over and above the high tide, and that's not trivial.
"They'll (civil defence) be watching this closely. It's a bit of a tense time until midnight tonight," Kirk said.
There was no guarantee the gap between the surges would remain at two hours, he said.
In the May 23, 1960 event, a 5m tsunami at high tide sent waves rushing into the estuary at 25km/h, flipped a cabin cruiser, set yachts adrift and left dinghies on the main road to Sumner.
Northland Civil Defence spokesman Matt Johnson said they were still experiencing "reasonably interesting fluctuations in sea levels and tidal surges" but expert advice suggested the main threat had passed.
They were not concerned about the possibility of high tide adding to the threat of the surges, saying the initial wave action had arrived not long after high tide this morning.
They still advised Northlanders to be cautious.
NZ FAMILY CAUGHT UP IN QUAKE DRAMA
Christchurch man Sean Gosling had a nervous wait as he sought news of his wife and daughter who were near the epicentre of last night's devastating earthquake in Chile.
Chile was rocked by an 8.8 magnitude quake last night which has killed at least 214 people, knocked down buildings and prompted a Pacific-wide tsunami warning.
Evelyn Fabiana Matamala Rojas and Paloma Sefia Gosling, 4, had been in Concepcion, the closest major settlement to the earthquake's epicentre for three weeks visiting Evelyn's family, Mr Gosling said.
The desperately worried father and husband had been frantically trying to get hold of the pair, trying friends, embassies, and any other methods of communication in a bid to try and track them down.
This morning, a friend in northern Chile, who had been given a long list of numbers to try by Mr Gosling, had managed to get hold of Evelyn's father who lives about 20 minutes out of Concepcion.
KEY SAYS NZ READY TO HELP
Prime Minister John Key today expressed sympathy on behalf of New Zealand, saying he was "shocked by the devastation".
"More than 200 people have died, but it's clear from media reports that the toll may rise.
New Zealand's government would priovide assistance to Chile on request, he said.
Source:stuff.co.nz/
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