Three earthquakes, tsunami warnings and thousands of people heading for the hills.
For residents of towns on the East Cape the alert came in the middle of the night, after an earthquake off the coast of Te Araroa.
Later in the morning - the shakes headed north - two earthquakes in the Kermadecs. and a warning to people in Northland to get out and move to higher ground.
By lunchtime the alert had passed, and people were allowed to return home - after hours waiting for surges to pass.
Sarah Robson reports.
