Tsunamis in 2016

September 1, 2016 Tsunami: Gisborne, New Zealand

September 1, 2016 · 0.21 m · Definite tsunami

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake began at Gisborne, New Zealand on September 1, 2016 at 16:37:57 UTC. The water rose as high as 0.21 meters. Its effects were recorded at 4 places.

Where the waves reached

The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.

  • Under 1 m
  • 1 to 3 m
  • 3 to 10 m
  • 10 to 30 m
  • 30 m and more
  • Height not recorded

Tsunami warnings in force

The tsunami

Date
September 1, 2016, 16:37:57 UTC
Source
Gisborne, New Zealand
Cause
Earthquake
Maximum water height
0.21 m (0.7 ft)
Runups recorded
4
Warning
Tsunami Information or Attention Bulletin issued by any agency
Waters
Ocean
How certain
Definite tsunami
Source location
37.359° S, 179.146° E

The toll

The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this tsunami.

Every runup

Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.

WhereCountryKm from sourceWater height, mInland, mMeasured byFirst wave, UTCDeaths
Lottin PointNew Zealand900.21Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 1, 16:38
GisborneNew Zealand1760.14Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 1, 17:48
TaurangaNew Zealand2640.06Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 1, 17:24
Korotiti Bay, Great Barrier IslandNew Zealand3510.15Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 1, 17:30

More

Every tsunami in 2016The 2000sTsunamis of New ZealandThe earthquakeThis day in weather historyAlerts in force

Sources

Tsunami events and runups from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI tsunami event 5606.