Make your home safer
Te whakarite i tō whare kia haumaru ake
We can't predict natural disasters, but we can prepare for them. One of the best places to start is with your home. Find out what you can do to make your home safer.
How to make your home safer
You can take steps to help reduce the effects of an emergency on you and your property.
- Use brackets or straps to secure tall and heavy furniture into wall studs.
- Move heavy and fragile items to shelves or cupboards lower down.
- Hang pictures and mirrors on appropriate hooks (no single nails).
- Make sure you know the location of emergency cut-off switches and taps for gas and water mains.
- Some brick and concrete masonry chimneys are at greater risk of collapsing in a quake. Check the Earthquake Commission's website for more information about how to make them safer.
- If your home has suspended floor foundations, check that they're in good condition and that connections are in place between the foundations and house above.
Visit the Earthquake Commission's website for more information on making your home safer.
Get your household ready
It’s up to you to make sure your family, and the people you care about, know what to do and that you all have what you need to get through on your own. Follow these easy steps to get your household ready.
