Thousands of New Zealanders allowed to return home after tsunami alert

Residents on North Island instructed to evacuate after three earthquakes felt across the country in one day

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Thousands of people have been told they can return home after being evacuated from coastal areas of New Zealand's North Island in the wake of a powerful 8.1-magnitude earthquake and tsunami warning.

The New Zealand National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) issued a national warning on Friday morning, saying people in many coastal areas of the North Island must move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible. Do not stay at home".