Getting ready for earthquakes, tsunamis and other emergencies

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and regional Civil Defence Emergency Management groupsVerified 14 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

New Zealand sits where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates meet, so there are earthquakes every day. The official advice is to make a household emergency plan and keep enough supplies for at least 3 days. In an earthquake, stay where you are and Drop, Cover and Hold. If you are near the coast and an earthquake is long or strong, do not wait for a warning. Move to high ground or inland straight away (Long or Strong, Get Gone).

Key facts

What to do in an earthquake: Drop, Cover and Hold: drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck (get under a strong table if one is within a few steps), and hold on until the shaking stops¹
Tsunami rule: Long or Strong, Get Gone: if an earthquake lasts more than 1 minute, or is so strong it is hard to stand, move inland or to high ground²
Local tsunami: Forms close to New Zealand and may arrive within minutes²
Regional tsunami (for example, from Tonga, Samoa or Vanuatu): May take 1 to 3 hours to arrive²
Distant tsunami (for example, from Chile, Alaska or Japan): May take 14 hours or more to arrive²
How long tsunami waves last: Waves may keep coming for up to 24 hours, with 5 minutes to 1 hour between waves²
After a tsunami or tsunami warning: Stay away from beaches, rivers and streams for at least 24 hours²
Looking after yourself: Be able to look after yourself and your household for at least 3 days⁵
Food supplies: At least 3 days; ideally plan for 2 weeks⁵
Drinking water supplies: At least 3 litres per person per day (at least 9 litres per person for 3 days)³
Emergency Mobile Alert: No need to register or download an app; most mobile phones can receive alerts⁴

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

This applies to everyone living in New Zealand. There are earthquakes every day, but most are too small, too deep or too far offshore to feel.
If you live, work or study in a low-lying coastal area, make sure you know about tsunami evacuation zones.
Local information, such as evacuation zone maps and local alerts, comes from your regional Civil Defence Emergency Management group, which is run by local government.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Make an emergency plan with your household
Talk about what each person will do in an earthquake and where you will meet if you get separated. Find out whether your home, school or workplace is in a tsunami evacuation zone. Plan to look after your whole household for at least 3 days.
Get emergency supplies and a grab bag
Keep enough water and food at home for 3 days or more. Also keep: medicines and copies of prescriptions, a torch and batteries, a solar or battery radio, a power bank, P2 or N95 masks and gloves, toilet paper and a large plastic bucket (for an emergency toilet), unscented bleach, cash and a first aid kit. Pack a separate grab bag that you can pick up quickly and take with you if you need to evacuate.
Make sure you can get official alerts
Emergency Mobile Alerts are sent straight to your phone. You do not need to register or download an app. When you get an alert, follow the instructions. Once you are safe, let your family and friends know. If the power or internet is down, listen to the news on a battery or wind-up radio.
During an earthquake: Drop, Cover and Hold where you are
Do not run outside. Falling bricks, concrete and glass cause the most injuries. Only move to a strong table if it is within a few steps. If you are in bed, Stay, Cover, Hold: stay in bed, pull the covers over you and protect your head and neck with a pillow. If you are outside, move to an open space away from buildings, trees, streetlights, power lines, slopes and cliffs, then drop. If you are driving, pull over to a safe place and stay in the car until the shaking stops.
Near the coast: Long or Strong, Get Gone
If an earthquake lasts more than 1 minute, or is so strong it is hard to stand, move to high ground or as far inland as you can as soon as the shaking stops. Get out of the tsunami evacuation zone. Do not wait for an official warning. Natural signs may be the only warning you get. If you can walk, run or cycle, do not drive, so you do not get stuck in traffic.
After an earthquake: expect aftershocks and check for danger
Drop, Cover and Hold every time you feel more shaking. Help people around you and give first aid if needed. Check for gas leaks and damaged power lines, and make sure the building you are in is stable. Only go into a damaged house after it has been confirmed safe. Take photos and videos of the damage and contact your insurance company to find out how to make a claim.

What documents do I need?

Household emergency plan (meeting place and family contact details)
Copies of important documents and prescriptions
Emergency supplies and a grab bag

What should I watch out for?

Many people are hurt in earthquakes because they move around during the shaking or just after it stops. If you are inside, staying where you are is safer than rushing outside.
If you have limited mobility and cannot drop to the ground, go to getready.govt.nz for other ways to protect yourself.
Aftershocks can happen minutes, days, weeks, months or even years later.
After a tsunami evacuation, only go home when emergency services say it is safe, even if the sea looks normal again.
Natural tsunami warning signs: an earthquake so strong it is hard to stand or that lasts more than a minute, a sudden rise or fall in sea level, or loud and unusual noises from the sea.
Battery-powered lights are the safest and easiest option for lighting.
ATMs and EFTPOS may not work during a power cut, so keep some cash at home.
Take part in the ShakeOut earthquake drill every year to practise Drop, Cover and Hold.
If you evacuate, take your grab bag, know where you are going and remember your pets.
After an earthquake, you can check earthquake information on the GeoNet website and submit a "Felt it?" report.
If someone is injured or a life is in danger, call 111.

Common questions

What should I do in an earthquake in New Zealand? Should I run outside?

No, do not run outside. Drop, Cover and Hold where you are: drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops. Only move to a strong table if it is within a few steps. Falling bricks, concrete and glass cause the most injuries.

I live near the beach. When should I leave after an earthquake? Do I need to wait for a tsunami warning?

Leave as soon as the shaking stops if the earthquake is long or strong. Do not wait for a tsunami warning. The rule is Long or Strong, Get Gone. If an earthquake lasts more than 1 minute, or is so strong it is hard to stand, move to high ground or as far inland as you can. A local tsunami may arrive within minutes. Walk, run or cycle if you can, so you do not get stuck in traffic.

What should I put in an emergency kit, and how much water should I store?

Store at least 3 litres of water per person per day. That is at least 9 litres per person for 3 days. Keep food for at least 3 days, and ideally plan for 2 weeks. Also keep medicines and copies of prescriptions, a torch and batteries, a solar or battery radio, a power bank, P2 or N95 masks and gloves, toilet paper, a large plastic bucket, unscented bleach, cash and a first aid kit. Pack a separate grab bag too.

Do I need to register for Emergency Mobile Alerts on my phone?

No, you do not need to register or download an app. Emergency Mobile Alerts are sent straight to your phone, and most mobile phones can receive them. When you get an alert, follow the instructions.

What should I do if an earthquake happens while I am in bed at night?

Stay in bed. Follow Stay, Cover, Hold: stay in bed, pull the covers over you and protect your head and neck with a pillow. Do not get up and move around during the shaking. Many people are hurt this way.

What should I do if there is an earthquake while I am driving?

Pull over to a safe place and stay in the car until the shaking stops. Afterwards, expect aftershocks. They can happen minutes, days, weeks, months or even years later.

Can I go back into my house if it is damaged after an earthquake? Should I contact my insurance company?

Only go into a damaged house after it has been confirmed safe. Yes, contact your insurance company to find out how to make a claim. Take photos and videos of the damage. Check for gas leaks and damaged power lines. If someone is injured or a life is in danger, call 111.

How do I find out if my home is in a tsunami evacuation zone?

Ask your regional Civil Defence Emergency Management group, which is run by local government. It provides local information such as tsunami evacuation zone maps and local alerts. If you live, work or study in a low-lying coastal area, check your home, school and workplace.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

EarthquakesAuckland Emergency Management (Auckland Council) · aucklandemergencymanagement.govt.nz
TsunamiAuckland Emergency Management (Auckland Council) · aucklandemergencymanagement.govt.nz
Emergency suppliesAuckland Emergency Management (Auckland Council) · aucklandemergencymanagement.govt.nz
Staying informed during an emergencyWellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) · wremo.nz
Home emergency checklistgovt.nz (Department of Internal Affairs) · govt.nz

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