Tsunami warning sirens in Christchurch and Auckland will be tested on Sunday, as part of their twice yearly checks which coincide with Daylight Saving.
Christchurch's tsunami warning siren system will be tested at 11am, and the sirens will sound for one to two minutes.
The sirens will be heard within a few blocks of the beach along the coastline from Waimairi Beach to Sumner, as these are the areas most at risk from a possible tsunami, the Civil Defence said.
In Auckland, sirens will be tested on the north and west coasts on Sunday.
The test sequence will be three sets of tones, each signalling a specific action and each will sound for one minute with 15 seconds between each set, the Civil Defence said.
Residents were advised that in an emergency, tones will sound for longer.
Civil Defence are advising residents not to panic when they hear the sirens, as they are just tests to ensure systems are working.
