A nationwide earthquake drill in this country is achievable, according to an earthquake specialist from California.
Civil Defence plans a national earthquake drill later this year and is hoping to persuade New Zealanders to take part.
The New Zealand ShakeOut will take place at 9.26am on 26 September and aims to have 1 million to practice the 'drop, cover and hold' drill.
Southern California Earthquake Centre communciation director Mark Benthien says the target of participants is easily within reach.
He says a similar exercise in California last year involved 8.6 million people.
