Examination of mean sea levels during three of the most damaging storms on the New Zealand coast in the past decade reveals the storm surges produced had maximum elevations of only 0·6 m. Departures from isostatic equilibrium in mean sea level are common, however; a consequence of New Zealand's windy climate. The associated alongshore flows, on the west coast at least, are large compared to the steady state flow on the continental shelf under calm conditions. These flows may have a strong influence an the dispersion of material that is set in motion by the windgenerated waves.