A tsunami warning has been issued for parts of New Zealand and waters around Norfolk Island this morning following a powerful earthquake.

According to the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre, an undersea earthquake of magnitude 7.9 occurred at 07:28 AM local time on Friday 05 March 2021 near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand.

This was one in a series of earthquakes that occurred near and to the north of New Zealand on Thursday night and Friday morning.

A tsunami warning has been issued for parts of New Zealand and for the marine environment of Norfolk Island. A tsunami watch was also issued for Hawaii.

We have issued a TSUNAMI WARNING for New Zealand coastal areas following the magnitude 8.1 earthquake near KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION. There is a LAND and MARINE TSUNAMI THREAT. An EMA will be issued to areas under land and marine tsunami threat.

— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) March 4, 2021

Earlier this morning, New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency ordered people near the coast in the warning areas to "MOVE IMMEDIATELY to the nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible."

Image: Tsunami forecast map issued at 9:35am NZDT on 05/03/2021 by New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency.

In a tweet, the agency said "the first waves may reach NZ in the areas around Lottin Point at approximately 9:49am NZDT. Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this warning is cancelled."

***TSUNAMI UPDATE***

Observations at #NorfolkIsland indicate that a 64cm #tsunami wave has impacted the coastline. Further tsunami waves are possible.

Please follow all advice from local police and emergency services.

Latest information here:https://t.co/77MBuLqTjH

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 4, 2021

As of 8am AEST, there was no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland.