There's nothing like a quake to shake the apathy.
What the Bay earthquake did in 1931 and Christchurch did in 2010-11, Kaikoura is doing to us in 2016.
The tough thing is knowing what to do with the newfound fear.
My kids sleep on three different levels in our house; the logistics of a night-time quake exit are demanding. There's three flights of stairs (with glass balustrades) to negotiate.
Hence is it better to crouch - or flee?
Christchurch would suggest the latter gamble. Given the vast majority in the Garden City's tragedy were killed indoors, the historic advice of "drop, cover and hold", is tough to subscribe to.