Emergencies at the University of Waikato

Emergency info, safety tips and contacts for the University of Waikato. Check here for updates during campus emergencies or drills.

We are testing emergency response systems at 1.30pm, Wednesday 7 May on our Hamilton campus and at 1.30pm, Friday 9 May at our Tauranga CBD campus.

Status

There is currently no emergency or active incident at the University of Waikato. This is a holding site in case an emergency happens.

In case of an emergency at the University of Waikato, this website will be your official site for information and updates.

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.

In case of emergency

In case of an emergency please dial 111 and report it to emergency services (Police, Fire, Ambulance) in the first instance.

Then call Unisafe on 4444 from a University landline, or 07 838 4444 from a mobile to report it.

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:

Information/updates on this website

The loud siren at the Hamilton campus or a PA announcement at the Tauranga campus – indicating a campus lockdown

Emails to staff and students

Emergency SMS text messages to staff and student mobile phones

University media releases and announcements
University social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X.

First response

When an emergency happens:

Keep calm

Alert those around you

If you have received instructions, follow those instructions

If no instructions have been provided, use your best judgement

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

Leave quickly by the nearest exit (follow the building exit signage) unless instructed otherwise

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

Move quickly and calmly – keep noise to a minimum and leave belongings behind

Comply with requests issued by building/floor wardens (identified via fluorescent vests), Unisafe (Campus Security) or emergency services

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

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:

May be used in case of an act or threat of violence on campus

Access-controlled doors will lock – entry will be disabled

You should stay in your office or building, seek cover and stay quiet

Please remain inside until an all-clear is given.

External threat lockdowns:

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

Access-controlled doors will lock – entry will be disabled

You should stay in your office or building, seek cover and stay quiet

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 Service	Normal hours: 07 838 4037 After hours options
National Poisons Centre	0800 764 766
University Service Desk	07 838 4008

Threats to personal safety

Suspicious behaviour and security incidents

Call Police on 111 and advise Unisafe

Observe from a safe distance and location until Unisafe staff arrive

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

Obey instructions and keep calm

Remove yourself and others from immediate danger if possible and safe to do so

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:

Move out of hallways and into an office or classroom

Lock the doors and turn off lights

Seek cover out of sight

If possible, call 111 and notify Unisafe – if you can’t speak, leave the line open

Silence mobile phones but do not turn them off

Wait for the Police to come and find you

Don’t open the door or respond to commands unless you are certain they are from Police or Unisafe.

If outside:

Leave belongings behind and run

Seek cover behind solid objects like concrete walls

Stay down and do not move – stay quiet and silence mobile phones, but do not turn them off

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.

Stay calm, stop and think before you act

Assess the scene and ensure your own safety

Remember the ABCs of first aid: Airways, Breathing, Circulation

Call 111 and notify Unisafe

If the medical emergency involves any kind of hazardous substance, phone the National Poison Centre

Send someone to show ambulance staff into the building or area if needed.

Defibrillator locations across NZ – including on campus

If you discover a fire:

Activate a fire alarm, alert people around you and call FENZ on 111

Follow the evacuation procedure

Do not use a lift or run

Go to the nearest evacuation point

Notify Unisafe

Follow the instructions of floor and building wardens and emergency services.

If caught in smoke:

Drop to your hands and knees and crawl to the exit

Stay low to the floor and hold your breath as much as possible

Breathe shallowly through your nose and use dry clothing like a shirt as a filter.

If trapped in a room:

Place cloth material around or under the door to prevent smoke from entering

Close as many doors as possible between you and the fire

Signal from a window but do not break the window unless necessary.

Alert everyone in the immediate area to the gas leak

Do not switch on or activate any alarms, do not use mobile phones, radios and electronic equipment, or light any flammable material

Activate gas valve shut off procedure if operating in a laboratory or workshop

If safe to do so, open windows and doors to outside

Follow the evacuation procedure

Once away from the area, immediately call 111 for FENZ and notify Unisafe

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.

Remove anyone from immediate danger

Call 1-111 from a landline and the National Poison Centre or chemical emergency number

Notify Unisafe

Do not allow any people into the affected area

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

Isolate the hazard by clearing the area and closing doors

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.

Remove yourself and anyone else from immediate danger if safe to do so

Close windows and doors

Move critical equipment, chemicals, documents and valuables to a safe area if there is time to do so safely

Be prepared to evacuate quickly if necessary, following the evacuation procedure

If you must evacuate, be aware of any flying debris

Shelter in the strongest parts of buildings (central corridors) if necessary

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
If inside, drop, cover and hold, and keep away from windows, shelves containing heavy objects and other large items of furniture

Stay indoors until the shaking stops and don’t try to move

When the shaking stops, evacuate the building immediately following the evacuation procedure

If outside, move away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines and drop, cover and hold

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

In a vehicle, pull over into a clear area, avoiding overpasses, powerlines and structural hazards, and stay in your vehicle

Limit phone use to emergency calls only and texts.

After an earthquake

If anyone needs medical assistance phone Emergency Services, and/or administer first aid

Assess your surroundings and evacuate if needed or instructed to do so

Listen to the radio for instructions from Civil Defence

Look out for live wires and other hazards

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.

Don’t wait for an official warning or to be told to evacuate

Walk inland or to higher ground – don’t drive

If there is no time to evacuate, move as high up in the building as possible

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.

If inside, stay inside

Close doors and windows to limit entry of volcanic ash

Turn off air conditioners

If outside, seek shelter in a car or building and keep as much of your skin covered as possible

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.

Contact the Service Desk on 07 838 4008

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

Sign out of all your accounts and remove any passwords saved on your computer

Remove any external hard drives or USB sticks from the computer

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.

Emergencies at the University of Waikato

Status

In case of emergency

Emergencies on campus

First response

Evacuation

Campus lockdown

Internal threat lockdowns:

External threat lockdowns:

Emergency contacts

Threats to personal safety

Suspicious behaviour and security incidents

Threatening behaviour

Active armed offender on campus

If inside:

If outside:

Incidents

Medical emergencies

Fire emergencies

Gas leaks

Hazardous substance spills

Floods and severe weather

Earthquakes and tsunami emergencies

Tsunami

Volcanic eruption and ash fall

Cybersecurity emergencies

Staying prepared at home

Responsibilities of University staff

Emergency Procedure manuals and links