Former All Black and Rugby Sevens captain Eric Rush is more used to dodging rampaging wingers than tumbling groceries - but that isn't stopping him taking part in a worldwide earthquake drill today.
As of noon yesterday, just under 32,000 Northlanders had registered to take part in ShakeOut.
Of those, just over half are in the Whangarei District. The majority - more than 18,000 - are children who will take part in the drill at school.
The aim of ShakeOut, which will take place at 9.15am today, is to practise what to do when an earthquake hits.
Far North Mayor John Carter said Northland had low seismic activity so many people mistakenly thought they had little to worry about.
The former Civil Defence Minister said people thought the same thing about Christchurch before the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
As a result, many people and businesses were not prepared, and lives were lost that could have been saved, he said.
Among Northland businesses taking part in the drill will be Kaikohe New World, owned by Kaeo-born Sevens star Rush.
Unlike schools or offices, supermarkets offer little to shelter under or hold on to. The official advice if you are caught in a supermarket during an earthquake is to drop to the ground and protect your head and neck, then leave the building only when the shaking stops.
The greatest danger is directly outside the building and near exterior walls due to shattering plate glass windows.
On Monday, an earthquake measuring 5.8 hit the lower North Island. It was felt as faraway as Auckland and Invercargill but no damage has been reported.
About 1.2 million New Zealanders are expected to take part in ShakeOut.
The main aim of the drill is to practise the "drop, cover and hold" response - drop to your hands and knees, seek shelter under a sturdy table or, if that isn't possible, get down near an interior wall or low furniture and cover your head and neck with your arms - if possible hold on to your shelter until the shaking stops.
-See www.shakeout.govt.nz for more information.