Most of Auckland's tsunami warning sirens are set to be deactivated and decommissioned over the next few months as mobile alerts become the main method of notifying the public.
From December 1, tsunami sirens in Rodney, Albany and Waitākere will be deactivated and decommissioned.
In a statement, Auckland Emergency Management's (AEM) general manager Paul Amaral said the sirens are less effective than an emergency mobile alert as they are are frequently vandalised and stolen.
"In the event of a potential tsunami that could cause damaging waves or flood the land, an Emergency Mobile Alert will be broadcast to all capable mobile phones. This is an effective, tried, and tested means of alerting people to danger," he said.
"The Meerkat sirens at many sites across Tāmaki Makarau have been prone to vandalism and theft and therefore ultimately couldn't be relied on as part of our tsunami alerting system."
However, the decommissioning only affects Auckland's older siren network, with Orewa's two sirens — installed in 2020 — set to remain.
The council's Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee voted to decommission the older sirens on September 5.
The tsunami sirens being deactivated from December 1 are located in:
- Rodney Ward: Point Wells (3), Whangateau (1), Omaha (6)
- Albany Ward: Hobsonville (1), Waiwera (1), Herald Island (3)
- Waitākere Ward: Bethells / Te Henga (3), Piha (9), Karekare (3), Whatipū (1), Huia (6), Te Atatū (5)
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