All of New Zealand is at risk of earthquakes. We can’t predict when one will happen, but we can protect ourselves and our whānau. Find out what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
Make your home safer. Fix and fasten objects that could fall and hurt you in an earthquake.
Review your insurance regularly. Having insurance cover for your home and contents is important to help you get back on your feet if you suffer damage in a disaster.
For information on how to prepare your home and protect your whānau, visit the Be Prepared section of the Earthquake Commission's website.
Work out what supplies you might need and make a plan together.
Practise Drop, Cover and Hold at least twice a year. You can do this when the clocks change and by taking part in New Zealand ShakeOut. It's important to practise the right action to take so that when a real earthquake happens, you know what to do.
Identify safe spaces to Drop, Cover and Hold within your home, school, work and other places you often visit.
Make a plan online with your whānau to get through an emergency. Think about the things you need every day and work out what you would do if you didn't have them.
For information on how to prepare your home and protect your whānau, visit the Be Prepared section of the Earthquake Commission's website.
Drop, Cover and Hold is the right action to take in an earthquake. It:
Do not run outside or you risk getting hit by falling bricks and glass.
If you are near the coast remember, Long or Strong, Get Gone.
In an earthquake Drop, Cover and Hold.
Drop down on your hands and knees. Cover your head and neck. Hold on to your shelter.
Learn how to Drop, Cover and HoldExpect more shaking. Each time you feel earthquake shaking, Drop, Cover and Hold. More shaking can happen minutes, days, weeks, months and even years following an earthquake.
Listen to the radio or follow your Civil Defence Emergency Management Group online.
Find out how to stay informedEarthquakes are the shaking of the surface of the Earth caused by a sudden release of energy.
Most (but not all) earthquakes start with this release of energy on faults. Faults are breaks that go deep within the Earth’s crust. Tension builds along faults as tectonic plates, which are always on the move, scrape over, under or past each other.
Earthquakes may be a foreshock or may be followed by aftershocks. Foreshocks are earthquakes that precede a larger earthquake. Aftershocks are earthquakes that follow the main shock as the rocks readjust and the ground settles into position. Aftershocks can happens minutes, days, weeks, months and even years after the main shock.
Although there are less aftershocks over time after a large earthquake, the magnitude (size) of aftershocks can be almost as high as the main shock. Even aftershocks that have a smaller magnitude can cause stronger ground shaking. This depends on their depth and location.
New Zealand lies on the boundary of the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, so earthquakes happen here every day. Most are too weak, too deep, or too far offshore for us to notice. However, a strong, damaging earthquake can happen at any time, and can be followed by aftershocks that continue for a long time.
While we know the locations of many large fault lines in New Zealand, there are many other faults buried underground that we don’t know about. Everywhere in New Zealand is at risk of earthquake hazards.
Earthquake hazards include ground shaking, land deformation and liquefaction.
Earthquakes can also trigger other hazards such as tsunami, landslides, floods and fires.
All of these hazards can cause damage to people, buildings and infrastructure. This includes roads, pipes in the ground, and electricity and telephone networks.
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