Emergencies at the University of Waikato
Learn what to do in case of an emergency on campus. Includes safety tips and contact info.
As a member of the University of Waikato community – whether you're a staff member, student, tenant, visitor, or neighbour – this website is your go-to source for emergency information and safety guidelines.
If you are external to the University we will provide media releases and contact information so you can keep up to date with what's happening.
Emergencies on campus
If an emergency happens on campus please pay close attention to any official messages issued by the University. Follow any instructions from either Police, Fire or Ambulance who may be leading the response to an emergency onsite.
Official channels for University updates may include but are not limited to:
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Information/updates on this website
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The loud siren at the Hamilton campus or a PA announcement at the Tauranga campus – indicating a campus lockdown
- Emails to staff and students
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Emergency SMS text messages to staff and student mobile phones
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University media releases and announcements
- University social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X.
First response
When an emergency happens:
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Keep calm
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Alert those around you
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If you have received instructions, follow those instructions
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If no instructions have been provided, use your best judgement
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If you require urgent help, call 111 and notify Unisafe.
You may be required to take one of several actions when an emergency first happens.
Two of the most immediate actions will be:
Evacuation
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Leave quickly by the nearest exit (follow the building exit signage) unless instructed otherwise
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Evacuate to a safe area clear of all buildings, roads and potential hazards – check the blue fire notices inside each building for the nearest evacuation point
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Move quickly and calmly – keep noise to a minimum and leave belongings behind
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Comply with requests issued by building/floor wardens (identified via fluorescent vests), Unisafe (Campus Security) or emergency services
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Floor wardens will check their allocated areas, especially toilets and storage areas, and lecturers will check teaching spaces during normal University hours – outside these hours and on weekends, please check as you evacuate
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Help people with mobility or accessibility requirements to reach a safe evacuation point.
Campus lockdown
A lockdown will be indicated by:
- Hamilton campus: ringing of a loud siren like those used by volunteer fire brigades
- Tauranga campus: PA announcement.
Internal threat lockdowns:
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May be used in case of an act or threat of violence on campus
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Access-controlled doors will lock – entry will be disabled
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You should stay in your office or building, seek cover and stay quiet
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Please remain inside until an all-clear is given.
External threat lockdowns:
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May be used when there is a situation in the area surrounding the University campus that could be a threat to staff, students and other campus users
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Access-controlled doors will lock – entry will be disabled
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You should stay in your office or building, seek cover and stay quiet
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Please remain inside until an all-clear is given.
Emergency contacts
| Contact |
Phone number |
| Police, Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ), or Ambulance | 111 |
| Unisafe (Campus Security) | 07 838 4444 |
| Chemical emergencies | 07 838 8888 |
|
Student Health Services |
Emergency: 07 838 4999 Non-emergency: 07 838 4037 |
| National Poisons Centre | 0800 764 766 |
| University Service Desk | 07 838 4008 |
Threats to personal safety
Suspicious behaviour and security incidents
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Call Police on 111 and advise Unisafe
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Observe from a safe distance and location until Unisafe staff arrive
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Provide the time, location, a description of people involved, any mode of transport observed, anything touched or taken, their direction of travel and any other information which may be useful to Police.
Threatening behaviour
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Obey instructions and keep calm
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Remove yourself and others from immediate danger if possible and safe to do so
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Do not argue, try to negotiate, take risks, or try to disarm the person.
Active armed offender on campus
A continuous warning siren will notify you of a lockdown. If a lockdown is initiated, all outside electronically controlled doors will lock.
If inside:
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Move out of hallways and into an office or classroom
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Lock the doors and turn off lights
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Seek cover out of sight
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If possible, call 111 and notify Unisafe – if you can’t speak, leave the line open
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Silence mobile phones but do not turn them off
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Wait for the Police to come and find you
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Don’t open the door or respond to commands unless you are certain they are from Police or Unisafe.
If outside:
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Leave belongings behind and run
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Seek cover behind solid objects like concrete walls
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Stay down and do not move – stay quiet and silence mobile phones, but do not turn them off
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Call 111 and follow directions from Police.
Incidents
All staff, students and other campus users should be prepared in case of a traumatic incident involving a medical emergency, death, or serious injury.
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Stay calm, stop and think before you act
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Assess the scene and ensure your own safety
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Remember the ABCs of first aid: Airways, Breathing, Circulation
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Call 111 and notify Unisafe
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If the medical emergency involves any kind of hazardous substance, phone the National Poison Centre
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Send someone to show ambulance staff into the building or area if needed.
If you discover a fire:
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Activate a fire alarm, alert people around you and call FENZ on 111
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Follow the evacuation procedure
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Do not use a lift or run
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Go to the nearest evacuation point
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Notify Unisafe
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Follow the instructions of floor and building wardens and emergency services.
If caught in smoke:
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Drop to your hands and knees and crawl to the exit
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Stay low to the floor and hold your breath as much as possible
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Breathe shallowly through your nose and use dry clothing like a shirt as a filter.
If trapped in a room:
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Place cloth material around or under the door to prevent smoke from entering
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Close as many doors as possible between you and the fire
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Signal from a window but do not break the window unless necessary.
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Alert everyone in the immediate area to the gas leak
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Do not switch on or activate any alarms, do not use mobile phones, radios and electronic equipment, or light any flammable material
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Activate gas valve shut off procedure if operating in a laboratory or workshop
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If safe to do so, open windows and doors to outside
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Follow the evacuation procedure
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Once away from the area, immediately call 111 for FENZ and notify Unisafe
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Do not enter the building until given the all-clear by FENZ and Unisafe.
All chemical spills must be treated as toxic and dangerous. They can be in liquid form, solids, powder or gas.
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Remove anyone from immediate danger
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Call 1-111 from a landline and the National Poison Centre or chemical emergency number
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Notify Unisafe
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Do not allow any people into the affected area
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If anyone is contaminated, set up an isolation area, put on Personal Protective Equipment if available and safe to do so, and observe and support the person until Emergency Services arrive
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Isolate the hazard by clearing the area and closing doors
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Don’t risk contact with the substance or allow it to spread.
Major storms can affect wide areas and can happen quickly. They can be accompanied by strong winds, heavy rain and flooding, thunder, lightning, tornadoes and rough seas. Storms can affect University services and operations due to high winds, the potential for hazards and damage to property.
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Remove yourself and anyone else from immediate danger if safe to do so
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Close windows and doors
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Move critical equipment, chemicals, documents and valuables to a safe area if there is time to do so safely
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Be prepared to evacuate quickly if necessary, following the evacuation procedure
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If you must evacuate, be aware of any flying debris
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Shelter in the strongest parts of buildings (central corridors) if necessary
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Report any damage or flooding to Emergency Services and Unisafe.
During an earthquake
- Don’t wait for an official warning or to be told to evacuate – if it’s long and strong, get gone
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If inside, drop, cover and hold, and keep away from windows, shelves containing heavy objects and other large items of furniture
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Stay indoors until the shaking stops and don’t try to move
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When the shaking stops, evacuate the building immediately following the evacuation procedure
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If outside, move away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines and drop, cover and hold
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In a lift, be patient and remain calm if the lift stops and power goes out, and use the lift emergency phone to call Unisafe
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In a vehicle, pull over into a clear area, avoiding overpasses, powerlines and structural hazards, and stay in your vehicle
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Limit phone use to emergency calls only and texts.
After an earthquake
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If anyone needs medical assistance phone Emergency Services, and/or administer first aid
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Assess your surroundings and evacuate if needed or instructed to do so
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Listen to the radio for instructions from Civil Defence
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Look out for live wires and other hazards
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Expect aftershocks and be aware of the risk of a tsunami.
Tsunami
A tsunami consists of a series of potentially strong waves and danger may last several hours after a strong earthquake.
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Don’t wait for an official warning or to be told to evacuate
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Walk inland or to higher ground – don’t drive
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If there is no time to evacuate, move as high up in the building as possible
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Once you get to a safe place, be prepared to wait it out before enacting your personal/family emergency plan.
Matua Tsunami Evacuation Zone: Tauranga CBD campus Durham Street, and the Coastal Marine Field Station in Tauranga.
Mount Maunganui Tsunami Evacuation Zone: The Adams Centre for High Performance.
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If inside, stay inside
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Close doors and windows to limit entry of volcanic ash
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Turn off air conditioners
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If outside, seek shelter in a car or building and keep as much of your skin covered as possible
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Mask your face to protect yourself from inhaling volcanic ash and gas.
During a cybersecurity emergency, if your computer has been compromised it may act differently to how it normally would.
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Contact the Service Desk on 07 838 4008
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Use a different, uncompromised computer or device to update passwords for applications and websites accessed on the compromised device, including social media, email, University logins, banking logins and other accounts
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Sign out of all your accounts and remove any passwords saved on your computer
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Remove any external hard drives or USB sticks from the computer
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Disconnect your computer from the internet
- Make sure your computer’s antivirus software is up to date and do a full scan
- If personal devices and/or accounts have been compromised, report the incident to CERT NZ.
Phishing and cyber crime efforts may increase during an emergency, so please be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity as soon as possible.
Staying prepared at home
A disaster can strike at any time and you could be anywhere – at work, at home, or out and about.
It pays to have an emergency kit ready at home and to know what to do if a natural disaster happens.
The Government’s official Civil Defence preparedness site GetThru will give you all the information and tips you need to keep yourself and your family safe during a disaster, including what to include in your emergency survival kit, getaway kit and first aid kit.
Responsibilities of University staff
During normal operating hours, the appointed Building and Floor wardens deal with any building evacuations. These evacuations are completed with the assistance of academic staff, who have responsibility for evacuating their own teaching area.
After normal business hours, building evacuations/emergencies are coordinated by Unisafe staff.
Unisafe should be contacted on 07 838 4444 in any emergency.