The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center apparently cancelled that Tsunami warning after about an hour. Apparently the Tsunami waves were only about 8inches (20cm) high.

And the USGS did record the earthquake at between a 7.8 (which is what their calling it) and an 8.1. The NGS (New Zealand equvilant to the USGS) recorded it and first reported the quake at a 6.6magnitude. And - last I read - the NGS is working with their USGS counterparts to make a determination on what magnitude the quake was. AFter all, there is quite a bit of a difference between a 6.6 and a 7.8.

~Nicole

--- In WorldEarthquakes@yahoogroups.com, "Storm Walker" <stormwalkernz@...> wrote:
>
>
> I would say so Rob with a bang it would seem.
> Some agencies are putting it at 7.8
>
>
> TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001
> PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
> ISSUED AT 0942Z 15 JUL 2009
>
> THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS...EXCEPT ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...
> WASHINGTON...OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.
>
> ... A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT ...
>
> A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR
>
> NEW ZEALAND
>
> FOR ALL OTHER AREAS COVERED BY THIS BULLETIN... IT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME.
>
> THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.
>
> AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS
>
> ORIGIN TIME - 0923Z 15 JUL 2009
> COORDINATES - 46.1 SOUTH 166.3 EAST
> DEPTH - SHALLOWER THAN 100 KM
> LOCATION - OFF W. COAST OF S. ISLAND N.Z.
> MAGNITUDE - 7.8
>
> EVALUATION
>
> IT IS NOT KNOWN THAT A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. THIS WARNING IS BASED ONLY ON THE EARTHQUAKE EVALUATION. AN EARTHQUAKE OF THIS SIZE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI THAT CAN STRIKE COASTLINES IN THE REGION NEAR THE EPICENTER WITHIN MINUTES TO HOURS. AUTHORITIES IN THE REGION SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS POSSIBILITY. THIS CENTER WILL MONITOR SEA LEVEL GAUGES NEAREST THE REGION AND REPORT IF ANY TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY IS OBSERVED. THE WARNING WILL NOT EXPAND TO OTHER AREAS OF THE PACIFIC UNLESS ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED TO WARRANT SUCH AN EXPANSION.
>
> ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.
>
> LOCATION FORECAST POINT COORDINATES ARRIVAL TIME
> -------------------------------- ------------ ------------
> NEW ZEALAND MILFORD SOUND 44.6S 167.9E 0951Z 15 JUL
> BLUFF 46.6S 168.3E 1031Z 15 JUL
> WESTPORT 41.8S 171.6E 1116Z 15 JUL
> DUNEDIN 45.9S 170.5E 1157Z 15 JUL
> AUCKLAND(W) 37.1S 174.2E 1217Z 15 JUL
> NEW PLYMOUTH 39.1S 174.1E 1233Z 15 JUL
> NELSON 41.3S 173.3E 1241Z 15 JUL
> WELLINGTON 41.3S 174.8E 1329Z 15 JUL
> LYTTELTON 43.6S 172.7E 1345Z 15 JUL
> NAPIER 39.5S 176.9E 1427Z 15 JUL
>
> BULLETINS WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.
> THE TSUNAMI WARNING WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
>
> THE WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER WILL ISSUE PRODUCTS FOR ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...WASHINGTON...OREGON...CALIFORNIA.
>
>
>
> --- In WorldEarthquakes@yahoogroups.com, "Rob" <kiwi_geofreak@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all
> >
> > This is in the deep south and in a very remote part of NZ. Felt reports will be sketchy at best for a bit and any damage will be confined to the Fiordland World Heritage area.
> >
> > http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3124785g.html
> >
> > Sandi, I would say the 6.0+ drought just ended.
> >
> > Rob
> >
>