Being prepared is the best way to plan for an emergency.

New Zealand ShakeOut is the national earthquake drill and tsunami hikoi planned for Thursday, 19 October 2023.

Shakeout occurs worldwide to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake – Drop, Cover and Hold. It is also an opportunity for people in coastal areas like Wairoa to practice their evacuation hīkoi

Locally, schools, workplaces, organisations and community groups are encouraged to participate in the annual exercise.

Wairoa District Council Chief Executive Kitea Tipuna said the purpose of ShakeOut is to remind people what to do in the case of an emergency. “As we all saw during Cyclone Gabrielle, you cannot plan for every eventuality. However, being prepared and familiar with the correct actions will help your response in an emergency.

“Wherever you are on Thursday, 19 October 2023, at 9.30 am, you are encouraged to drop, cover, and hold for one minute. The drill also includes, for those local people living in a tsunami zone, particularly in coastal areas,  to move inland or to higher ground, to an area zoned safe from a tsunami. You can check the tsunami zones at www.hbemergency.govt.nz/tsunami

Mr Tipuna said earthquakes can happen anytime, and knowing the right action to take saves lives. “We're a coastal region at risk of earthquake and tsunami because we live in one of the country’s most seismically active regions due to our proximity to the Hikurangi Subduction Zone - Aotearoa’s largest and most active fault. Because of this, everyone needs to be prepared and know how to keep themselves safe in an earthquake.

“Council and Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management are encouraging organisations and individuals to register and participate in the event. Joining ShakeOut is a great way for everyone in your whānau, workplace or school to learn the right actions to take before, during and after an earthquake and tsunami.

“ShakeOut is also a great time to check your household emergency supplies, update and review your household emergency plan, and quake-safe your home, classroom or workplace.

“It is important to know ahead of time what you would do and where you need to go in the event of a large earthquake that triggers a tsunami along our coast. Our advice is that if an earthquake is long or strong, get gone.”

To sign up for New Zealand ShakeOut, go to www.hbemergency.govt.nz/tsunami

18 September 2023

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