Hastings District Council says large swells of between 5m and 8m, which were predicted to hit parts of coastal Hawke's Bay on Wednesday night, did not eventuate.
Council staff and the police warned residents in the communities of Haumoana, Te Awanga and Clifton on Wednesday afternoon to be prepared to self evacuate if necessary.
They also erected a temporary roadblock along the route leading to the three settlements, in an effort to warn residents travelling home from work of the possible danger.
A council spokesperson, Paul Evans, says by high tide at 8.15pm swells were only 3m high.
He says Civil Defence staff will be back on the job in the morning before high tide at 8.30am.
