Te Puni Kōkiri staff were among the 1.3 million people across New Zealand who participated in New Zealand ShakeOut, the country's largest ever earthquake drill at 9.26am today.

Over 400 Te Puni Kōkiri staff across the motu practiced Drop, Cover and Hold. Staff was expected to drop to their knees, cover their heads and find cover under a table or other shelter.

Following the drill, Deputy Secretary Support Services Michelle Ewington and Deputy Chief Executive Herewini Te Koha addressed staff at Head Office in Wellington.

Michelle and Herewini said: “New Zealand ShakeOut isn’t about knowing what to do if and when an earthquake strikes – it’s about making sure our whānau are prepared and ready. Some of us have partially completed lists of preparations for earthquakes and other disasters. New Zealand ShakeOut has given us motivation to finish of those lists, whether it’s buying those last items, finishing off that whānau plan, packing emergency kits, or copying documents for insurance purposes.”

Deputy Secretary Support Services Michelle Ewington introduced the New Zealand Get Thru - What To Do In An Earthquake video. Watch the video on-line http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a7T9Uf-JB4.

For more comprehensive information about preparing for a disaster, visit http://www.getthru.govt.nz/