What To Do When an Earthquake Strikes

The strong earthquake that shook much of the central North Island last month was a timely reminder that Tamahere and the wider Waikato are certainly not immune from earthquakes.

The magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck just south of Taumarunui at 4.51am on Saturday 25 July, at a depth of only 9km. GeoNet received more than 22,000 felt reports, with the shaking felt widely across the North Island, including here in the Waikato.

So, if the ground starts moving, do you know what to do?

Civil Defence advice is simple: Drop, Cover and Hold.

• DROP down onto your hands and knees, or get as low as you safely can. This reduces the risk of being knocked over while allowing you to move if necessary.

• COVER your head and neck. If a sturdy table or desk is within a few steps, get underneath it. If there is no suitable shelter nearby, protect your head and neck with your arms and hands.

• HOLD onto your shelter — or maintain your position protecting your head and neck — until the shaking stops. If the table or desk moves, move with it.

If you're outside, move away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines before dropping and covering. If you're driving, pull over somewhere clear, stop and remain in the vehicle with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Afterwards, drive cautiously and be particularly wary of bridges, ramps and damaged roads.

Tamahere - Let's ShakeOut - There is a good opportunity coming up to practise.

New Zealand ShakeOut 2026 takes place at 1.30pm on Wednesday 21 October. The nationwide exercise is designed to make the correct response almost instinctive: participants simply practice Drop, Cover and Hold for 60 seconds.

Civil Defence Waikato is encouraging more Waikato households, workplaces and community organisations to take part this year after the region's participation lagged behind neighbouring Auckland and Bay of Plenty last year. As an added incentive, Waikato Civil Defence is offering two household emergency go-bags, together with a morning tea for the Waikato workplace or community group producing the best ShakeOut promotion.

Perhaps more importantly, ShakeOut is a good prompt to spend a few minutes checking whether your household actually knows what to do and whether you have emergency supplies and a grab bag ready if electricity, water, communications or roads are disrupted.

You don't need to wait until October to practice. Drop. Cover. Hold. The few seconds it takes to react correctly when the ground starts shaking could make all the difference.

Register for New Zealand ShakeOut 2026 HERE

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