Update 10.23pm: Civil Defence have sent out a text alert this evening to notify the public that the sirens sounding earlier were due to a fault and that there is no tsunami threat.

The text alert read: "There is no tsunami threat to the Bay of Plenty. Fire and Emergency NZ have reported a fault in their siren system."

Civil Defence sent out the text alert at 10.22pm.

The sirens went off along the coast from Waihi to Papamoa at 9.17pm. Many residents from Waihi Beach reportedly evacuated their properties due to fears that the sirens were warning of a tsunami.

Earlier, 10pm: Te Puke Fire Brigade have reported that station sirens have experienced a system fault this evening resulting in a false tsunami warning being activated.

"This evening our station siren along with neighbouring brigades all activated signalling everyone to a Tsunami Warning," says a Te Puke Fire Brigade spokesperson.

"We have just had confirmation that this was indeed a system fault."

The activation occurred at approxiimately 9.17pm.

"Fire & Emergency will be investigating this issue as to why this occurred.

"We apologise for the inconvenience please rest assured there is no need to panic."

Earlier, 9.30pm Sirens being heard along the Papamoa coast this evening are not due to any tsunami says Bay of Plenty Civil Defence.

Many people from Mount Maunganui to Papamoa have heard a loud siren going from about 9.30pm on Sunday evening.

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence have posted on their Facebook page "Good evening everyone. Just to let you know...we have not triggered any tsunami sirens. We have received reports of sirens across the Bay of Plenty but this has not been triggered by the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group."

This siren sound has now stopped.

SunLive will have an update on this as soon as more information becomes available.