Tsunami and Earthquake Training for New Zealand Workplaces

Living on the Ring of Fire

New Zealand sits astride two major tectonic plates, making earthquakes an ever-present risk. The country also faces tsunami threats from both local and distant seismic events. Every New Zealand workplace must be prepared for seismic emergencies—not as a remote possibility, but as a likely occurrence during the working lives of your staff.

The 2011 Christchurch earthquake demonstrated the devastating impact of seismic events on workplaces. Buildings collapsed, staff were injured, and many organisations faced weeks or months of disruption. Proper training and preparation can mean the difference between organised response and dangerous chaos.

Messana Group delivers specialist training to help New Zealand workplaces prepare for earthquake and tsunami events with the same professionalism we bring to fire and evacuation training.

Earthquake Response Training

Drop, Cover, Hold

The foundation of earthquake response is the Drop, Cover, Hold technique. Our training goes beyond simple explanation to ensure staff can execute this response instinctively:

Drop: Lower yourself to your hands and knees to prevent being knocked down and to allow movement to shelter.

Cover: Get under a sturdy desk or table if possible. Protect your head and neck with your arms if no shelter is available.

Hold: Hold onto your shelter and be prepared to move with it. Stay in position until the shaking stops.

We practise these techniques during training sessions, ensuring staff understand the correct positioning and can perform the actions under stress.

During the Earthquake

Our training covers critical decision-making during seismic events:

• When to shelter in place versus evacuate
• Actions to take in different building locations (offices, stairwells, lifts, car parks)
• Protecting yourself in open spaces
• Responding to falling objects and structural movement
• Maintaining calm and assisting colleagues

Immediate Aftermath

The moments following an earthquake present significant hazards. Our training addresses:

• Damage assessment procedures
• Recognising structural instability signs
• Utility hazards (gas leaks, electrical damage, water damage)
• First aid for earthquake-related injuries
• Communication when systems may be compromised
• Making evacuation decisions

Aftershock Protocols

Earthquakes are rarely single events. Aftershocks can continue for days, weeks, or months, and individual aftershocks can be stronger than the initial earthquake. We train staff to:

• Understand aftershock patterns and probabilities
• Maintain heightened awareness following initial events
• Resume Drop, Cover, Hold during aftershocks
• Assess cumulative building damage
• Determine when buildings are safe to reoccupy

Tsunami Response Training

Understanding Tsunami Warnings

New Zealand receives both official warnings and natural warning signs. Our training covers:

Official Warning Systems: How the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) tsunami warning system works, different alert levels, and how warnings are communicated.

Natural Warnings: Recognising signs of potential local tsunamis—prolonged ground shaking, unusual sea behaviour, sounds from the ocean—that may precede a tsunami before official warnings can be issued.

Evacuation Procedures

Tsunami evacuation differs significantly from fire evacuation. Our training addresses:

Evacuation Zones: Understanding your workplace’s relationship to tsunami evacuation zones and evacuation routes.

Vertical Evacuation: When moving to higher floors is the appropriate response versus horizontal evacuation to higher ground.

Horizontal Evacuation: Identifying evacuation routes, assembly points at appropriate elevations, and estimated travel times.

Long Duration Events: Tsunami warnings can remain in effect for many hours. We address planning for extended evacuation periods.

Return to Work

After a tsunami warning is lifted, returning to the workplace requires assessment:

• Confirming official all-clear status
• Checking building integrity
• Assessing water damage and contamination
• Utility restoration verification
• Communication with staff regarding return timing

Auckland Volcanic Field Awareness

Auckland is unique among major cities—built directly on an active volcanic field with over 50 volcanic centres. While volcanic eruption probability is relatively low, the consequences of an eruption within the metropolitan area would be severe.

Our Auckland training includes awareness of:

• The Auckland Volcanic Field and its characteristics
• Types of volcanic hazards (lava flows, ash fall, volcanic tremors)
• Warning signs and monitoring systems
• Auckland Emergency Management volcanic alert levels
• Evacuation planning for volcanic events
• Business continuity during volcanic disruption

This awareness training ensures Auckland workplaces understand these risks without creating unnecessary alarm about events that may never occur.

Building Damage Assessment Basics

Following significant earthquakes, staff may need to make immediate decisions about building safety before engineers can inspect. We provide basic training on:

• External damage indicators (cracks, leaning, foundation movement)
• Internal damage indicators (ceiling damage, wall cracks, door frame distortion)
• When to evacuate immediately versus shelter in place
• How to safely exit a damaged building
• Cordoning and access control until professional assessment

This training empowers staff to make informed initial decisions while emphasising that professional engineering assessment is required before reoccupying significantly damaged buildings.

NEMA Guidelines Alignment

Our training aligns with National Emergency Management Agency guidelines and resources, ensuring consistency with official New Zealand emergency management approaches. We incorporate:

• Official NEMA terminology and procedures
• Current emergency management best practices
• Resources available through civil defence organisations
• Integration with community emergency response plans

Training Delivery

On-Site Training

We deliver training at your workplace, allowing us to:

• Reference your specific building characteristics
• Identify appropriate shelter locations
• Review actual evacuation routes
• Address site-specific hazards and considerations

Training Content

Our standard tsunami and earthquake training session covers:

• New Zealand seismic environment overview
• Drop, Cover, Hold technique with practice
• Earthquake response procedures
• Immediate aftermath actions
• Tsunami warning systems and natural warnings
• Tsunami evacuation procedures
• Building damage awareness
• Question and answer session

Sessions typically run two hours for comprehensive coverage, though we can adjust duration based on your needs and staff familiarity with the content.

Refresher Training

Earthquake and tsunami preparedness skills require periodic reinforcement. We recommend annual refresher sessions to maintain awareness and incorporate any new staff members.

Integration with Emergency Plans

Effective earthquake and tsunami response requires integration with your broader emergency management framework. We can assist with:

• Incorporating seismic procedures into existing emergency plans
• Developing standalone earthquake and tsunami response procedures
• Creating quick-reference materials for staff
• Reviewing and updating evacuation diagrams for seismic scenarios

Who Should Attend

This training is valuable for all staff in New Zealand workplaces, with particular importance for:

• Emergency wardens and first responders
• Reception and security staff
• Building managers and facilities personnel
• Staff in multi-storey buildings
• Workplaces in coastal or tsunami evacuation zones
• Auckland workplaces (volcanic field awareness)

Why Messana Group

Trans-Tasman Experience: Our sixteen years of emergency management training experience provides a strong foundation, adapted for New Zealand’s specific seismic environment.

Practical Focus: We deliver training that staff will remember and can execute under stress. Theory matters, but practice makes the difference.

Professional Delivery: Our trainers are experienced professionals who can answer questions, address concerns, and adapt content to your workplace context.

Ongoing Support: We maintain relationships with our clients and provide support as their emergency management needs evolve.