Civil Defence advised everyone to stay off beaches and inshore areas and warned of strong and unusual ocean currents virutally nationwide. The warnings had little impact on the few people already at New Plymouth beaches or on the Coastal Walkway, which stayed busy throughout the day. A third tsunami surge warning did initiate Port Taranaki to move three ships docked at the port out to sea at midday. Only one vessel – a logging ship – which could not be moved due to tidal constraints remained in port. Port Taranaki chief executive Guy Roper described the situation as “fast moving,” with port authorities reassessing the situation “minute by minute.”