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Two people in a dining room sheltering from an earthquake. A person who uses a wheelchair is covering their head and leaning forward. A person is kneeling under a table covering their head and holding onto the table leg

Thursday: Get Earthquake Ready

WREMO > News and Events > Get Ready Week 2025 > Thursday

The Wellington region is crossed by a number of major faults, including the Wairarapa, Wellington and Ohariu faults. 

The biggest known earthquake in New Zealand was the 1855 magnitude 8.2 in the Wairarapa.  

While we can’t stop earthquakes from happening, but we can be prepared and know how to keep safe.  

Join people across Aotearoa for ShakeOut our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi. ShakeOut is held across the world to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake.

How to participate in ShakeOut

ShakeOut is a self-run drill. You can start it in whatever way works for you. You could:

  • use a bell, whistle or alarm
  • play the New Zealand ShakeOut Announcement over your PA system, or
  • shout “EARTHQUAKE DRILL”
  • Drop, Cover and Hold for 30–60 seconds:

DROP down on your hands and knees. This protects you from falling but lets you move if you need to.

COVER your head and neck (or your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk (if it is within a few steps of you). If there is no shelter nearby, cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.

HOLD on to your shelter (or your position to protect your head and neck) until the shaking stops. If the shaking shifts your shelter around, move with it.

For some people Drop, Cover and Hold is not possible. The GetReady website has information on alternative Drop, Cover & Hold options.

Drop Cover Hold Alternatives

Participate in ShakeOut

Have you registered for ShakeOut?

At 9:30am on Thursday October 16th, join people across Aotearoa and practise your earthquake and tsunami drill at work, school or at home! 

Sign up for ShakeOut

Practise your tsunami hīkoi

Do you live or work in a tsunami zone?

If you live or work in a tsunami zone ShakeOut is the perfect chance to practise your tsunami hīkoi. A tsunami hīkoi is a walk that takes you along your tsunami evacuation route either inland or towards higher ground.

If you feel a Long OR Strong earthquake, you need to evacuate immediately to higher ground or as far inland as possible once the shaking has stopped.

When planning your tsunami hīkoi think about:

  • Where you will evacuate to?
  • What routes can you take to get there?
  • What do you need to take with you? 

Having a plan and practising it helps your muscle memory kick in when an event happens, even in a very stressful situation.

Quake safe your home

Making your home safer will reduce damage during an earthquake and allow you to stay in your home.

There are some easy ways to make your property more resilient.

  • Check your house foundations
  • Securing tall and heavy furniture
  • Secure water header tanks
  • Check heavy roofing tiles are tied in place and/or consider replacing with lighter-weight metal roofing. 
  • Check brick chimneys are properly secured, and if not in use, consider removal. 
Find out more

Friday: Get Community Ready

After a major emergency the people you live nearest to will be your most immediate, and ongoing, source of support.

Go to 'Get Community Ready'