3 September 2025
Education is key to preparedness and there is no better time to practice that than ShakeOut 2025.
It’s time for whānau, homes, businesses, schools and kohanga to sign-up for ShakeOut 2025 -https://getready.govt.nz/involved/shakeout/sign-up - and prepare to roll out your evacuation plans in the case of an earthquake or tsunami warning.
It’s all happening on October 16 at 9.30am.
For the past four years, Tairāwhiti has topped Aotearoa New Zealand for the best regional involvement – and that something Tairāwhiti Emergency Management group manager Ben Green isn’t keen to relinquish!
Leading the regional signup for this kaupapa is however second to what we are really seeking to connect through this campaign.
“Our main effort for natural hazards risks is the education and preparedness planning for when we have a significant earthquake and subsequent tsunami in the Hikurangi Faultline,” he says. “It is great that we have seen the uptake from the ShakeOut campaigns over recent years. Having the highest national rate of signups over the last four years is a good indicator that whānau are engaged with these messages. We know they are taking the message home and helping to safeguard their whānau.”
As a nation, New Zealand is highly vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunami.
“We have a tsunami risk and our region has experienced these in 1947 and 1960,” says Mr Green. “A magnitude 9 earthquake in the Hikurangi Faultline will have a catastrophic consequence for our region and it is vital that knowing what to do becomes second nature to all.
ShakeOut is held across the world to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake. It is a self-run earthquake and tsunami drill. Those in coastal areas are also encouraged to practice a tsunami hīkoi (evacuation walk).
WHAT: ShakeOut 2025
WHEN: 9.30am, 2025m, October 16
WHERE: Your place – work, home or school!
SIGN UP: https://getready.govt.nz/involved/shakeout/sign-up
Photo: Students from Wainui School during last year’s ShakeOut exercise.
Photo: Mark Mitchell, Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, speaks to the students at Wainui School during last year’s ShakeOut exercise. Photo by Strike Photography