Civil Defence says the way many people in Wellington congregated in the streets after Friday's magnitude 6.6 earthquake is worrying.
Civil Defence emergency management director John Hamilton said most people knew to "drop, cover, hold" during the earthquake, but did not know what to do afterwards.
Mr Hamilton said it is risky to leave a building providing shelter and structure, to stand on a street surrounded by high-rise buildings, verandahs and windows.
People who ran out could have been hit by falling glass and masonry, especially if there had been a major aftershock.
Mr Hamilton said a building should not be evacuated after an earthquake unless it is showing obvious signs of distress.
He said all workplaces should develop a plan for what to do immediately after a major earthquake.
