Earthquake

Auckland, and all of New Zealand, is at risk of earthquakes. As an island country we are also at risk of a tsunami – huge ocean waves – which sometimes follow large earthquakes. 

• Keep calm
• Stay indoors, where practical.
• Do not run outside

If you are in a building

• Keep away from windows and heavy furniture
• Move no more than a few steps, then:

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’s no shelter nearby, drop and 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 there’s no shelter near you, crawl to an inside corner of the room and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.

• Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit.

If you are in a lift

• Drop to the floor and put your hands over your head. 
• When the shaking stops, try and get out at the nearest floor if you can safely do so.

If you are driving

• Pull over to a clear location as soon as you can
• Turn off the engine and put on the handbrake
• Do not park under anything that could fall on to the vehicle; avoid stopping under bridges, lamp posts, trees and power lines
• Before you get out of your vehicle after the ‘quake, you need to check for hazards such as fallen power lines or objects above you that might drop. If power lines have fallen on your car, do not get out - call 111
• Use your car radio to get news about how bad the earthquake damage is and advice on what to do next

If you are outdoors

• When the shaking starts, move away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines 
• Then drop, cover and hold

• Do not renter buildings until Property Services have confirmed they are safe for re-entry.
  
• Expect to feel aftershocks.
• Check yourself for injuries and get first aid if necessary. Help others if you can. More information: Medical and first aid emergencies.
• Be aware that electricity supply could be cut, and fire alarms and sprinkler systems can go off in buildings during an earthquake even if there is no fire.
• Once the shaking has stopped, check for a safe way to exit. If you are in a damaged building, try to get outside and find a safe, open place. Use the stairs, not the lifts. More information: Evacuation. 
• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines, and stay out of damaged areas.
• Only use your phone for short essential calls to keep the lines clear for emergency calls.
• Listen to the radio for information and follow Civil Defence instructions. Find out more: Emergency contacts and information sources.
• If you are near the coast, you are at risk of a tsunami.

For more information, look at New Zealand's Civil Defence website.

Civil Defence's Get Ready website: www.getready.govt.nz

Document Control
Version: 2.0
Last Updated: Oct 2025
Next Review: Oct 2028
Owner: hsw@auckland.ac.nz
Approver: Associate Director, Health Safety & Wellbeing