See: Pictures show storm surge hitting Tokomaru Bay on the east coast

Images of waves hitting Tokomaru Bay on the east coast have been posted on social media.

The Waiapu Civil Defense released the video, taken by Claudia Maaka, showing waves hitting the bay around 11:30 am on Friday, following the 8.1 magnitude earthquake in the Kermadec Islands earlier today. Gina Pewhairangi posted a similar video as residents watched from nearby hills.

New Zealand was under a series of tsunami warnings and advisories, which covered the east and west coasts of the country, on both islands. However, residents who were evacuated in Northland, Bay of Plenty and the East Coast could return home early Friday afternoon.

Hundreds of workers, students and residents headed for higher ground on Friday morning.

Residents were told to move in immediately after the 8.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, 1000km northeast of New Zealand, at 8.28am (NZT).

There was a traffic jam in cities like Whangārei and on other roads around the affected regions.

New Zealanders in coastal areas reported that the landscape changed, with waves approaching and rivers emptying.

Businesses in downtown Whāngarei were evacuated and employees were advised to go to higher ground.

A worker from the center of Whāngarei said on Friday that it was crowded in the city as people tried to evacuate.

“There were a lot of people standing on the street outside of their workplaces.”

A tsunami warning siren sounded in the Whangārei suburb of Onerahi.

Whangarei Middle School was evacuated and students walked to higher ground on the bike path near their school.

People were told to walk, run or bike if possible to reduce the chance of getting stuck in traffic.

According to the USGS, the last earthquake to hit the Kermadec Islands was 8.1 magnitude and 19.4 km deep.

This was the third and largest earthquake above magnitude seven to hit the Pacific region on Friday morning.

A 7.4 earthquake occurred near Raoul Island in Kermadecs at 6.41 a.m. and many New Zealanders were woken up by a 7.1 magnitude tremor off the east coast of the North Island at 2.27 a.m.

The previous two earthquakes triggered Civil Defense tsunami warnings that were later lifted, but the third earthquake triggered the strongest warnings.