New Zealand households need to be ready for interruptions that can happen with little warning. An earthquake, flood, wildfire, landslide, or severe storm can close roads, interrupt power and water, and make it difficult to reach family members. A well-planned go bag gives each person the basics they need if you have to leave home quickly or spend time away from your usual supplies.
This guide explains what to pack for each family member, what to keep in a larger household emergency kit, and how to prepare for earthquakes, floods, and wildfires in New Zealand.
What is a go bag?
A go bag is a small, ready-to-carry bag for one person. It is not designed to replace your household emergency supplies, and it is not meant to contain everything you own. Its job is to help each person manage the first few hours after leaving home, reaching a meeting point, or moving to a safer location.
Pack one for every member of the household, including children. Keep the bags together where everyone can reach them, but make sure each bag is light enough for its owner to carry. A sturdy backpack is usually more useful than a suitcase because it leaves both hands free.
Choose a bag that matches the person and the load
Not every family member needs the same size or style of bag. A child should carry only a light pack, while an adult may be able to carry extra water, clothing, or shared supplies. For larger personal loads, our 50L Large Capacity Nylon Hiking Backpack, 70L Oxford Hiking Backpack, and 60L Water-Repellent Hiking Backpack with Rain Cover are examples of larger outdoor packs to compare.
If you prefer a heritage-style pack, our Waxed Canvas Leather Backpack is the locally held option. A separate Men's Waxed Canvas Backpack is also available as a supplier-fulfilled alternative. Check each listing for current availability, and choose the bag based on the person carrying it rather than simply choosing the biggest capacity.
What to put in every family member's go bag
Start with the essentials, then adjust each bag for the person's age, health, size, and responsibilities.
- Water: Carry a practical amount for immediate use in a 3L Hydration Bladder. It can be a better fit for a go bag because it keeps hands free while moving. A Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle is a useful alternative, and the larger household water supply should be stored separately.
- Food: Lightweight freeze-dried meals can be a practical option when you have stored water and a safe way to heat it. Keep the shared cooking equipment, such as the Complete Camp Kitchen Bundle, with the household emergency supplies rather than overloading every individual bag. Add familiar snacks as well, and choose food your household will actually eat.
- Warm layer: Add a fleece, thermal layer, beanie, gloves, or spare socks suited to the season. A Merino Wool Thermal Base Layer is one example of a compact warm layer for an adult-sized bag.
- Rain protection: A lightweight waterproof layer or poncho can make a major difference when roads, buildings, and transport are disrupted. An adult-sized Waterproof Thermal Hiking Jacket is one option to compare, with clothing adjusted for each family member.
- Light: Pack a headlamp or torch, plus spare batteries if the light does not use a rechargeable battery. A Solar Power Bank with Emergency Red Light can also help with charging and visibility, but it should not replace a dedicated torch.
- Communication: Include a small whistle, a contact card with key phone numbers, and a charged 30000mAh Power Bank with Type-C Fast Charging with the correct cable. Charge it before an outing and check that it suits the phones or communication equipment your household uses.
- First-aid basics: Pack plasters, basic wound dressings, antiseptic wipes, and any personal first-aid items the person may need. A compact Outdoor Survival First Aid Kit can support the shared household supplies.
- Medication: Include essential prescription medicines and a written list of medicines, allergies, and important health information. Check expiry dates regularly.
- Hygiene items: Add hand sanitiser, tissues, sanitary products where needed, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a small amount of toilet paper.
- Identification and information: Keep a photocopy or written record of important contacts, medical needs, and an agreed out-of-area contact.
- Sturdy footwear: Keep practical closed-toe shoes or boots close to the bag, especially if broken glass, silt, mud, or damaged surfaces could be a concern. Compare options such as Waterproof High-Top Hiking Boots for adult-sized emergency footwear.
- Small comfort item: For children, a familiar toy, book, or activity can help reduce stress while adults manage the situation.
Personalise each bag for the person carrying it
A family go-bag system works best when the contents reflect the real needs of the household.
- Babies and young children: Add nappies, wipes, formula or other feeding supplies, spare clothing, and a comfort item. An adult should carry these supplies if the child is too young to carry a bag safely.
- Older adults: Include glasses, hearing-aid supplies, mobility items, and a clearly written medication list.
- People with disabilities or health conditions: Plan for mobility, communication, sensory, dietary, and medical needs. Include backup batteries, charging equipment, or assistive items where relevant.
- Pets: Keep pet food, water, medication, a lead or carrier, waste bags, and a current photo with the household emergency supplies. Pets may not be accepted in every evacuation centre, so identify suitable arrangements in advance.
- Drivers and older children: Add a high-visibility layer, a small notebook and pen, and the household meeting-point information if they may need to travel independently.
Keep a larger household emergency kit as well
Go bags are for leaving quickly. A separate household kit is for staying at home, sheltering in place, or supporting the family after the immediate danger has passed.
New Zealand emergency guidance recommends storing at least 9 litres of water per person for three days, along with food that can be prepared with stored water and an appropriate cooking method if normal power is unavailable. Freeze-dried meals can be useful here because they are lightweight and designed to be rehydrated, but remember to store enough water and fuel for the number of people you are preparing for.
Also consider adding:
- Extra drinking water and water for basic cooking and hygiene
- Freeze-dried meals, familiar snacks, and a manual can opener for any canned food
- A battery or wind-up radio and spare batteries
- Extra torches or lanterns
- Blankets, sleeping bags, and warm clothing
- A more complete first-aid kit and essential medicines
- Cleaning supplies, rubbish bags, and toilet supplies
- Basic tools, work gloves, duct tape, and heavy-duty tarpaulins
- Cash, spare keys, and copies of important documents stored in a waterproof container
- Supplies for babies, older adults, people with disabilities, and pets
Water: store it first, filter it as a backup
Stored drinking water is the first priority. For drinking while moving, a 3L Hydration Bladder can keep water accessible without stopping to unpack a bottle. A Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle is a useful alternative for portable water, but neither replaces the larger household supply.
A filter straw can be useful as a backup when you have a suitable untreated water source and the product instructions say it is appropriate for that source. Our Portable Outdoor Water Filter Straw and Outdoor Water Purification Straw are compact options to consider for camping and emergency kits.
Do not assume that floodwater is safe because it looks clear. Floodwater may contain sewage, chemicals, salt, fuel, or other contamination that a small filter may not remove. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and official local emergency advice, and use an approved treatment or boiling method where directed.
Cooking freeze-dried meals without mains power
Freeze-dried meals need water and a safe way to heat it. A lightweight shared cooking kit can serve the household without putting a full kitchen in every go bag. Our Titanium Camping Cookware Set provides a compact pot-and-pan option, while the BRS-3000T Portable Outdoor Titanium Gas Stove is a compact NZ-stock burner to pair with suitable cookware. For a ready-made option, the Complete Camp Kitchen Bundle combines a pot, burner, and titanium utensil. A Portable Camping Stove Set with Windscreen is another option to compare.
Use gas stoves only outdoors or in an area specifically designed and approved for that appliance. Never use a gas stove inside a house, garage, vehicle, or tent because of fire and carbon-monoxide risks. Keep the burner stable, away from flammable materials, and use only the fuel and cookware specified by the manufacturer. Check connections before use, keep children back from the flame, and allow the stove to cool before packing it away.
A tent can provide temporary family shelter
A tent can be a useful part of a household emergency plan if you need temporary weather protection and authorities say it is safe to remain nearby. Our Four Person Outdoor Camping Tent is the most natural family-sized option to consider. Smaller or more weather-focused options include the HIMRON Ultralight 4-Season Camping Tent and Winter Double Layer Waterproof Camping Tent.
A tent is not a substitute for an official evacuation centre or a safe building. Never pitch one in floodwater, on an unstable slope, near damaged structures, or where emergency services have told you to leave. Keep the tent, pegs, poles, groundsheet, and repair items together so they can be found quickly.
Warmth and sleep matter after the first night
Cold, wet, and exhausted people make poorer decisions. Add warm layers, spare socks, blankets, and sleeping gear to the household kit. A Merino Wool Thermal Base Layer can be useful as a warm clothing layer, while a Mummy Goose Down Sleeping Bag can provide a compact sleeping option. Choose equipment that matches the person, the season, and the conditions you are likely to face.
Earthquake preparation: know what to do during the shaking
If you are indoors when an earthquake starts, stay inside and use the Drop, Cover, and Hold approach. Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck under a sturdy table or desk if possible, and hold on until the shaking stops. If there is no shelter nearby, protect your head and neck and move away from windows, shelves, and objects that could fall.
After the shaking, expect aftershocks and check for immediate hazards such as broken glass, fire, gas smells, damaged power lines, and unstable structures. Use your radio or official alerts for instructions, and do not enter a badly damaged building until it has been declared safe. Your go bag should be easy to reach without crossing a room full of fallen objects.
Flood preparation: move early and avoid floodwater
Flooding can make roads impassable and conditions can worsen quickly. Follow local warnings and move people, pets, medication, and essential bags to a safer location early if authorities advise evacuation or if water is rising near your home.
Never walk, swim, or drive through floodwater. It may be deeper or faster than it looks, and it can conceal holes, debris, damaged roads, and contaminated water. If you are told to evacuate, take your go bags, follow the designated route, and do not return until authorities say it is safe.
Wildfire and forest-fire planning
Wildfire risk can change quickly during a dry or windy spell, including in areas that are familiar to you. Before an outing, check local warnings, fire restrictions, weather, and access-road conditions. Keep your go bags, water, phones, power banks, medication, and important contacts ready, and make sure your household has an agreed meeting point and more than one route out.
If a wildfire, smoke front, or official warning affects your area, leave early when authorities advise it. Do not wait to see how close the fire gets, and never drive through smoke, closed roads, or falling debris. If you see an uncontrolled fire or are in immediate danger, call 111 when it is safe to do so.
For a household or vehicle kit, an air-quality monitor can help you observe PM2.5 readings, but it is not a fire-warning system and does not replace official alerts. A PM2.5 protective gas mask, activated-carbon fire protection mask, or full-face respirator may be considered for limited smoke and dust exposure only when used exactly as the product instructions specify.
Respirators and masks do not make it safe to remain in a wildfire, and they should never delay evacuation. They may not protect against carbon monoxide or every gas in smoke. Check the filter type, seal, condition, and replacement requirements, and do not rely on a mask unless it is suitable for the specific hazard. If you have breathing difficulty, move to cleaner air and seek emergency help.
Do not light a stove, wood burner, or fire during a fire ban or when conditions make it unsafe. Follow local restrictions and official instructions even if you are well away from town.
Where to store your bags
Choose a location that is easy to reach in darkness and does not depend on power. A cupboard near an exit can work well. Avoid putting every bag in a low garage or basement where floodwater could reach them. Keep shoes, coats, and keys nearby, and make sure every family member knows the meeting point and how to contact the household's out-of-area contact.
Check your go bags twice a year
Set a reminder at the start of daylight saving and again before winter. Replace expired food and medicines, change clothing sizes, recharge power banks, check batteries, update contact details, and adjust the contents for changing health needs. Let children practise carrying their own bags and make sure everyone knows the difference between the household meeting point and the safer location you would use during an evacuation.
Prepared is better than panicked
A go bag will not solve every emergency, but it removes a lot of avoidable stress. Pack one for each person, keep a separate household supply of water and food, make a simple communication plan, and listen to official New Zealand emergency information when an event occurs.
The best time to prepare is before the warning arrives. A few practical bags, checked twice a year, can help your family move faster and make better decisions when conditions are uncertain.