Wellington, Sep 18 (IANS): A tsunami warning for New Zealand's east coast following the Chile earthquake was cancelled on Friday, but civil defence officials warned against going in the water at least for another day.

"We expect that there may be some unusual water conditions for the next 24 to 36 hours and advise people to be cautious and use discretion before going into the water or going out in small boats. We expect things to be back to normal within that 36 hour period," ministry of civil defence and emergency management director Sarah Stuart-Black said in a statement.

The tsunami warning was issued for most of the east coast of New Zealand's two main islands and the Chatham Islands at midday on Thursday, with the first waves arriving at the Chatham Islands from 11.50 p.m. on Thursday, Xinhua reported.

Wave heights up to 50 cm were recorded in parts of the Chatham Islands.

"On any given day New Zealand's entire coastline could be at risk from a tsunami. This warning as a result of the Chilean earthquake is a reminder to each of us to make sure we know what to do in an emergency," said Stuart-Black.

"In the past few years we have experienced several of these ' distant source' tsunami that have been generated from earthquakes from across the Pacific."