Short answer. New Zealand has no published network of public protective shelters against blast or fallout. During an emergency, local councils open Civil Defence Centres, which give displaced people welfare support, information and help with basic needs. They are not open at all times; openings are announced on council websites, social media and radio 1.
Does New Zealand have public bunkers or fallout shelters?
No. No public network of blast or fallout shelters is published for New Zealand 1. There is no public shelter count and no shelter locator.
What is a Civil Defence Centre?
A Civil Defence Centre is a welfare centre opened by the local council during an emergency 1. It provides displaced people with welfare support, information and help with basic needs 1. It is not a protective structure.
As the Hawke's Bay CDEM Group puts it: "Civil Defence Centres are not open at all times" 1.
How do I find an open Civil Defence Centre?
When an emergency happens, check 1:
- your regional Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group or council website;
- the council's social media;
- the radio.
Civil Defence Centres are not open at all times, so check these channels when an emergency happens 1. Keep a battery radio and a portable phone charger, both on the official supplies list 2.
Will a Civil Defence Centre have food and supplies for me?
Do not count on it. NEMA warns that emergency shelters may not have the food and supplies you need 2. Bring your grab bag: water and snack food, warm clothes, a portable phone charger, cash and copies of important documents and photo ID 2. See the New Zealand kit list.
Where should I shelter in a nuclear or chemical emergency?
No New Zealand official guidance on protective sheltering against fallout was found in the sources reviewed for this page. General concepts are explained, with their own sources, in Shelter in place or evacuate after a nuclear emergency? and What is a shelter's protection factor?. In any emergency, follow official instructions received through Emergency Mobile Alert and local authorities.
Can I build my own shelter?
No New Zealand law or official guidance on private civil-protection shelters was found. See Building a shelter in New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions
Are there nuclear bunkers in New Zealand?
No public network of blast or fallout shelters is published. Councils open Civil Defence Centres for welfare support instead 1.
Are Civil Defence Centres always open?
No. They open during an emergency and the opening is announced on council websites, social media and radio 1.
What should I bring to a Civil Defence Centre?
Your grab bag. NEMA warns that emergency shelters may not have the food and supplies you need 2.
Sources
- Hawke's Bay Emergency Management (Hawke's Bay CDEM Group) — Civil Defence Centres — https://www.hbemergency.govt.nz/civil-defence-centres/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- National Emergency Management Agency (Get Ready) — Work out what supplies you need (large print, file aug26, produced 2022) — https://getready.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/documents/alternate-formats/large-print/docx/21-supplies-lp-en-aug26.docx (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for New Zealand, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Hawke's Bay Emergency Management (Hawke's Bay CDEM Group) · Civil Defence Centres checked 2026-10-20
- National Emergency Management Agency (Get Ready) · Work out what supplies you need (large print, file aug26, produced 2022) checked 2026-10-20