Biggest civil defence exercise responds to 'eruptions'

Civil Defence and local and central government organisations will erupt into action this week as New Zealand's biggest ever civil defence exercise peaks.

Under Exercise Ruaumoko emergency operations centres will be activated and 100 local, regional and central government and non-government organisations will respond to volcanic activity in Auckland.

The exercise began in November last year. Seismic activity intensifies this week with pre-eruption earthquakes. Civil Defence Minister Rick Barker said the last major exercise was a Capital Quake in November 2006.