Considering our shaky state - meaning that we have a lot of earthquakes, and considering that we have a couple of big ones surrounding us, I am concerned that NZ might have the next major quake.

We have a history of devastating quakes.

So, are we prepared?

I've been to NZ, lovely place full of good people.

That's what you need if things really get bad.

You'll be fine.

as longs the big ones stay in the lower south island of NZ we should be ok. The 7.8 quake a couple of months ago did hardly any major damage and no injuries at all due to the lack of population down there.

If a huge one struck anywhere else in NZ it could be a major disaster though.

Go to www.prepare.co.nz

they have lots of emergency supplies incase of a big quake.

The building standards in NZ mean that if a moderate one occurs you should be relatively safe aslong as you dont stand in the middle of the house (corners are great for seeking shelter as are doorways no matter what people might say otherwise.)

If your also on coastal areas and and the quake is big enough to send your TV or fridge across the room then i'd suggest going to the nearest high point and waiting it out (a small portable radio with AAA batteries would come in handy for up-to date reports as your waiting for anything to occur.)

However the risk is always there for NZ, wether the Pacific Plate is currently experiencing jolts moving East or not. The longer you go without a quake the bigger one will eventually be.

Stay safe.

Don't worry about it.

You can't predict when it will happen, so don't think about it.

That said, you can predict *that* it will happen with a certain amount of certainty, so take a bit of time to get batteries in the flashlight, review the safety precautions, and make sure everything that should be bolted down is bolted down.

It's easy to get complacent. We all forget why we don't keep the glassware on the high shelves, or why we had the monitor bolted to the desk, or why hanging your bass guitar on the wall isn't a very good idea...

...and then we wake up at three in the morning to the sound of breaking glassware and the monitor hitting the floor, accompanied by the sound of a 6 string bass being struck repeatedly against a wall.

Do it now, or sweep it up later. You'll sleep better.

Probably.

Don't fear quakes the building standards in NZ are pretty good.

Just follow what the tell you and prepare. And stay the heck away from the coast afterwords.

You people down there have them daily and you don't even feel them.

And keep an eye on them volcanoes too.

Yeah, NZ is quite close to an active fault line. Id say the south island would be at a greater risk due to its close proximity to the fault line near Macquarie Island.

Originally posted by OzWeatherman
Yeah, NZ is quite close to an active fault line. Id say the south island would be at a greater risk due to its close proximity to the fault line near Macquarie Island.

heh 'quite' close?... you mean New Zealand IS a fault line, We bleeding well straddle two tectonic plates actually when you think about it New Zealand is nothing but the visable material where the two plates go under and over each other.