1947 Gisborne earthquakes and tsunami

[1] Four people at the Tatapouri Hotel, 13 kilometres by road north of Gisborne, saw the tsunami coming and rushed up a hill.

Two waves swept through the ground floor of the hotel up to window sill height, and retreating water then washed small buildings out to sea.

A little further north at Turihaua, a 10-metre high wave hit a cottage, sweeping two men who were outside it inland onto the coast road.

[2] Seaweed was later found in telegraph wires 12 metres above sea level at Pouawa Beach.

[1] No one died in either of the tsunamis, but there could have been a high toll had they struck when beaches were crowded during summer holidays.