West Coast Civil Defence aftershock warning 'irresponsible' - Mayor

Civil Defence says there was little factual information in the West Coast advisory (Getty)
Civil Defence says there was little factual information in the West Coast advisory (Getty)

The Grey District Mayor has criticised West Coast Civil Defence for "scaremongering" after the organisation issued an urgent warning about a possible large aftershock.

The office put out the advisory on Wednesday evening, but later retracted it with an apology from West Coast Civil Defence regional manager Chris Raine.

The warning was issued without consulting GNS Science or the Ministry of Civil Defence.

Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn says such warnings aren't helpful for already wary residents. 

"It's been an overreaction and people don't need that. They've got the jitters with all these earthquakes around the South Island over the last few years and recently in Kaikoura so it's important we take the advice from the ministry, GeoNet and we all get coordinated together to send out the right information.

"Putting out the wrong information is not helpful for anyone at the moment," he says.

"In a situation like this it's only scaremongering to throw out information that's going to make people worried there's an imminent earthquake pending."

GNS Science's natural hazards director Dr Gill Jolly says there is no extra concern that the Alpine Fault will rupture as a result of the Kaikoura aftershocks.

Civil Defence and Emergency Management director Sarah Stuart-Black says there was "a lot in the release that wasn't factually correct", but was pleased it had been retracted and an apology issued.

She says it is up to the West Coast Regional Council chief executive Mike Meehan to deal with the fallout.

"There's a need to ensure public information is consistent and coordinated which is why I'm looking for [Mr Meehan] to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Labour deputy leader Annette King says the warning caused unnecessary worry for residents already concerned about the quakes.

"It's a shame that people were alarmed and frightened, but I also can understand that down in Wellington and the South Island, there is a high level of agitation," Ms King told Paul Henry on Friday.

But she says had a large quake happened, there'd be questions about why no one was warned.

While the Government runs the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, local authorities are responsible for civil defence in their own areas.

Newshub.