Photo: 123RF / Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye
A tsunami alarm was accidentally activated in North Canterbury on Thursday afternoon, causing some residents to evacuate.
Waimakariri District Council confirmed the Waikuku Beach tsunami siren was triggered, and apologised for the inconvenience.
The council said it was quickly stopped by a maintenance technician.
Some residents expressed their frustration on social media, saying they headed for higher ground before discovering it was a false alarm.
The council said civil defence staff were on site and keeping an eye out for residents who might have heard the siren.