Most of Auckland's tsunami warning sirens will be turned off this summer as mobile alerts become the main method of informing the public.
From December 1, 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 mobile alerts as they are often 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.
"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."
This will only affect Auckland's older siren network with Orewa's two sirens, installed in 2020, set to remain.
It comes after the council's Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee voted to decommission the older sirens in September.
The tsunami sirens which will be deactivated are 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)
