How to Help People During an Earthquake in New Zealand

Quick answer: To help people during an earthquake in New Zealand, Drop, Cover and Hold while the ground is shaking; protect your own head and neck before checking on anyone else. After the shaking, call 111 for an urgent police, fire or ambulance emergency, and stay away from visibly damaged buildings, unstable slopes, fallen wires and broken glass. If you are near the coast and the earthquake is long or strong, get gone: move as soon as the shaking stops to higher ground or as far inland as possible, out of tsunami evacuation zones. Do not wait for a siren or official alert after natural tsunami warning signs.

New Zealand’s earthquake safety is managed through local Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups, emergency services and national guidance. The official Get Ready earthquake page explains protective behaviour and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) tsunami response guidance explains why a nearby tsunami can arrive within minutes. A family in Wellington, Christchurch, Hawke’s Bay or along the East Coast may have different evacuation routes and secondary risks. This is general information, not confirmation of current building, road or tsunami conditions.

One rule makes helping safer: do not become another person who needs rescuing. A neighbour who rushes outside beneath falling masonry, enters a cracked building or drives towards a dangerous beach can make conditions worse. A safer helper protects themselves, offers concrete support when conditions permit, provides emergency dispatch with an accurate address and keeps rescue access clear.

First 12 actions to help someone during an earthquake

During shaking: immediately Drop, Cover and Hold. If possible shelter beneath a sturdy table and hold its legs; protect the head and neck.
Do not run outside: falling bricks, glass, signs and masonry often present a greater danger than remaining in a safer part of the building during shaking.
Check the coast: if shaking lasts more than a minute or is hard to stand through, leave the tsunami evacuation zone after it stops. Long or Strong, Get Gone.
Call 111 for immediate danger: serious injuries, collapse, fire or trapped people need emergency services.
Check for aftershocks: Drop, Cover and Hold again if further shaking begins.
Observe building hazards: stay away from damaged columns, balconies, chimneys, stairs and overhead lines.
Report the last confirmed location: tell responders the address, room, floor, people and hazards when someone is believed to be trapped.
Offer accessible help: ask whether someone with a disability or older person needs transport, medication, communication or mobility support.
Follow local Civil Defence directions: evacuation zones, welfare centres and road closures depend on the district.
Keep roads and phone lines clear: brief text messages can be more practical than repeated calls to family.
Ask what people need after the emergency: safe water, health support, temporary accommodation and a way to contact relatives.
Do not promise re-entry: a damaged building needs proper assessment, and another earthquake may follow.

Who to call and what each service does

111 — national emergency number: police, fire or ambulance when life or property faces immediate danger. Calls are free.
105 — non-emergency police contact: for reporting a police matter that is not urgent; do not use it for a trapped or injured person.
Local Civil Defence Emergency Management Group: authoritative local evacuation and welfare information, including operating assistance centres.
Get Ready: official earthquake advice and official tsunami evacuation guidance.
National Emergency Management Agency: Civil Defence, including coordinated preparedness and response messages.
GeoNet: scientific earthquake reports and current seismic information; an event listing is not a building safety certificate.
Regional and local councils: damaged infrastructure, council water notices, authorised welfare assistance and reopening conditions.

The New Zealand Police and Immigration New Zealand emergency information confirm 111 as the free emergency contact for police, ambulance or fire. If a person is buried or badly injured, give a precise address, town and nearby landmark. If someone only missed your call, do not declare them trapped; report the time and circumstances of the last confirmed contact.

How to Drop, Cover and Hold in different situations

At home, school or work

Drop to hands and knees so you are less likely to fall. Move no farther than necessary to sturdy shelter, cover head and neck beneath a table or with your arms and hold on until shaking stops. Stay away from windows, tall cabinets, exterior glass and hanging objects. New Zealand’s NEMA consistent earthquake instructions explain that in most buildings, you should remain indoors during shaking rather than run for the exit. The exit decision comes after evaluating damage.

Using a walker or wheelchair

A person who uses a wheelchair should not automatically be instructed to drop onto the floor. The official Get Ready accessibility guidance advises Lock, Cover and Hold where appropriate: lock the mobility aid, bend or curl as much as possible to protect head and neck, and hold that position. Ask what protection the person prefers and avoid an untrained transfer during shaking.

Lying in bed

If it is dangerous to move, stay in bed while protecting the head and neck with a pillow, unless the position itself is threatened by nearby falling objects. Do not rush across a room of broken glass during intense shaking. Once it stops, check for hazards, put on sturdy shoes when appropriate and follow your local or building plan.

Outside or driving

Outside, move clear of buildings, masonry, poles, power lines and unstable slopes where safely possible, then protect yourself. Driving, pull over cautiously to a safe area, avoiding bridges, tunnels and cliffside roads if possible. Stay in the vehicle during shaking when appropriate and check official road closures before proceeding. If rockfall or a damaged bridge blocks access, do not use a navigation shortcut through a closed route.

Long or Strong, Get Gone: how to help with tsunami evacuation

A local earthquake-generated tsunami may reach parts of New Zealand’s coast before authorities can issue a text or siren. Long shaking means about a minute or more; strong means shaking makes standing difficult. If either happens in a tsunami-prone coastal area, move immediately after shaking stops to high ground or as far inland as possible, outside tsunami evacuation zones. The Get Ready tsunami page says not to wait for an official warning after natural signs.

Other natural warning signs include sudden rise or fall of sea level and unusual loud roaring from the ocean. Do not go to a waterfront, harbour or estuary to see whether a wave is coming. Tides and tsunami currents can move through channels and ports. The first wave is not necessarily the largest, and the sea may remain dangerous for hours. Stay clear until an official all-clear.

What does helpful support look like during evacuation?

Point to the official route, help people understand the destination, and move together if safe. If a person has a mobility limitation, assist along the route if appropriate and alert local response personnel if the route is inaccessible. Do not turn back into the danger zone to collect a relative or pet when you have reached safety. A precise last-known location sent to an emergency service can help trained responders.

Should people drive or walk?

NEMA recommends moving away promptly, typically on foot or bicycle where possible to avoid traffic congestion, while recognising different needs. People with disabilities may require a preplanned vehicle or other transport support. The safest method depends on the specific route and local conditions. Do not assume a car can escape a traffic jam before a local tsunami arrives.

If someone is injured or missing

Before approaching, assess the scene. Broken glass, shifting masonry, unsecured heavy objects, fire or electrical hazards can injure you. Ask whether the person can respond, breathe and move safely. Call 111 for life-threatening injuries. Follow the dispatcher about first aid. If trained, provide appropriate first aid; avoid moving someone with suspected spinal injury unless immediate danger requires movement and it can be done safely.

Someone is trapped in a damaged building

Do not enter a partially collapsed building, climb over unsupported concrete or pull structural rubble aside. Provide responders with the building, floor, unit, last-seen position, number of people and whether anyone can be heard. An aftershock may cause further collapse. Keep bystanders away and leave space for emergency vehicles and engineers.

When the phone network is unreliable

Send short messages to family, identify the time and place where someone was last confirmed safe, and conserve phone battery. Do not publicly post personal medical data or a child’s temporary shelter location. If a welfare centre has a formal family registration or reunion process, follow it instead of making an uncontrolled public list.

Damaged buildings, electricity, water and roads

Gas leak: do not use flames or electrical switches in a suspected gas-affected area. Move away and notify emergency services or the utility.
Electrical cables: treat every fallen line as live and avoid wet areas around damaged equipment.
Stairs, masonry and chimneys: damaged brickwork may fall with aftershocks; keep clear.
Water: check local boil-water and public-health instructions if infrastructure is damaged. Boiling will not remove all chemical pollutants.
Food: discard food exposed to floodwater or unsafe temperatures during prolonged power outages.
Transport: check council and road-operator closures, especially mountain routes, bridges and tunnels.
Landslides: after strong rain or shaking, stay out of slopes with cracks, falling stones or moving debris.

Helping older adults and people living alone

Ask what would make the next action possible: a walking aid, spectacles, hearing assistance, medication, safe transport or a trusted relative. Do not assume older adults need to be carried or cannot make decisions. A person may have an established plan and prefer help from a known neighbour. Use phone and message check-ins where in-person travel is unsafe.

A missed check-in is information to follow up, not proof of injury. Contact a second trusted person or local official. If you have a specific reason to believe someone faces immediate danger—such as a known collapsed building and no response—call 111 and provide the facts.

Children, schools and accessibility

Schools have plans for evacuation, shelter and reunification. Parents should avoid driving into a restricted area to collect children who are already supervised. Confirm the school’s current instructions and use an agreed contact plan. If a child is separated, keep them with authorised staff and protect identifying details.

A public hall or school shown on a local map may be a meeting point rather than an operating Civil Defence Centre. Ask the responsible council or CDEM Group whether it is open and what services it provides. A centre may not be able to provide specialist medical care, accessible bathrooms or housing for everyone without additional arrangements.

The first 72 hours of support

First hours: confirm injuries and immediate hazards, pass rescue information, and move out of tsunami zones when required.
Day one: help locate appropriate drinking water, medicine, food, toilets, family contact and shelter.
Day two: support health appointments, accessible transport, school communication and utility information.
Day three: help with verified council assistance, property damage reporting and safe longer-term accommodation.
Following weeks: keep checking on people dealing with displacement, employment disruption, insurance and recovery needs.

Help at a Civil Defence Centre or welfare location

Volunteer assistance may be needed with food, safe water, phone charging, accessible information and private registration, but do not arrive uninvited. Local emergency coordinators can confirm whether a centre is operating and which help is appropriate. Sometimes the most valuable assistance is translating a public warning, bringing the correct prescription through an approved route or checking on someone unable to queue.

Keep records minimal and private. A volunteer should not collect personal ID, bank details or photographs of distressed people unless authorised for a legitimate service. Use only the local agency’s current application and referral processes; never promise relief grants or a fixed delivery time.

Preparing before the next earthquake

Identify protective positions at home, school and work where Drop, Cover and Hold can be used immediately.
Practise the accessible version that works for each household member, including Lock, Cover and Hold.
Find out whether the home, school or holiday location falls in a tsunami evacuation zone.
Walk the tsunami route and agree on where family members will meet.
Secure heavy furniture and items that could fall.
Keep necessary medicines, glasses, mobility support, water and phone charging available.
Agree on a trusted out-of-area contact and two ways to communicate.
Learn how to contact 111 and what location details a dispatcher will need.

Four real-life situations and safer choices

1. A friend hears glass breaking and wants to rush down stairs

Tell them to protect their head, Drop, Cover and Hold until shaking stops, then assess whether the route is safe. Running through shaking or damaged stairs can cause another injury.

2. A family near the beach experiences a long earthquake

After shaking stops, move promptly inland or uphill beyond the tsunami evacuation zone. Do not wait to see waves or ask for an official notification. Help people along the route only where it is safe.

3. A neighbour is believed trapped behind a cracked wall

Call 111 with the exact unit, last confirmed sighting, hazards and injuries. Do not break through an unstable wall or move load-bearing debris without trained rescuers.

4. An older adult says the local Civil Defence Centre has moved

Check the official local emergency management announcement before directing anyone there. A previously used centre may be closed, full or inaccessible. Identify the actual operating location and suitable transport.

Frequently asked questions

What is New Zealand’s emergency number?

111 for police, fire or ambulance emergencies. The operator connects you to the appropriate service. Police non-emergencies generally use 105.

What is Long or Strong, Get Gone?

After coastal shaking that lasts more than a minute or is strong enough to make standing difficult, move immediately out of tsunami evacuation zones to higher ground or inland. Do not wait for an official warning.

Should I run out of a building during an earthquake?

No. Civil Defence generally recommends Drop, Cover and Hold until shaking stops, as exterior masonry and glass can fall. Follow building-specific emergency instructions afterwards.

What if I use a wheelchair or walker?

Use an accessible version such as Lock, Cover and Hold: secure the mobility aid and protect the head and neck. Arrange accessible evacuation support in advance.

Can I re-enter a visibly damaged home after the shaking ends?

Do not assume it is safe. Aftershocks and weakened structures remain hazardous; obtain appropriate assessment and follow official re-entry advice.

How can people overseas help?

Stay in private contact, support verified relief organisations, help with accurate council and Civil Defence information, and avoid sharing unverified personal or missing-person details.

More country-specific eduKateSG disaster-help guides: Flood in Vietnam · Heatwave in Spain · Wildfire in Chile. Emergency numbers, warning systems and evacuation rules vary by country; follow the authorities where an incident is happening.

New Zealand official sources and related eduKateSG guides

Reviewed 6 November 2026. This is general New Zealand earthquake and community-assistance guidance, not an earthquake prediction, real-time road update or certification that any building or welfare centre is safe or open. Follow current local Civil Defence, NEMA and emergency-service instructions.