The official tsunami warnings came from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), he said. “The official warning for Taranaki was a beach and marine threat, where the advice was for people to stay off the beach and out of the water due to the potential for strong and unusual currents. SIMON O'CONNOR/Stuff Taranaki Civil Defence acting regional manager Todd Velvin said it was difficult to police people heading to beaches but overall he was happy with the public's response to the tsunami warnings. “The tsunami warning did not give Civil Defence the authority to stop people going to the beach. We could only advise people not to.”