A test of preparedness for a tsunami saw 350 Whangarei District Council staff switching off work for an hour.
Closed between 9am and 10am yesterday were council offices at Forum North, Central Library, Botanica, Claphams Clocks and the Hub at the Town Basin and Walton Plaza.
Council health and safety manager Desarae Williams said the evacuation was a practice run for what might happen if a near-source tsunami hit our coastline.
"In emergency situations we are often the ones working hard in a Civil Defence capacity to keep our residents, ratepayers and visitors safe. We also need to think about our staff and what they need to do in the situation where their workplace may no longer be safe," Ms Williams said.
Council emergency management officer Victoria Randall said the timing of the tsunami drill was during Get Ready Get Thru week, the national awareness campaign organised by the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.