The University of Waikato is testing its emergency response systems at its Hamilton and Tauranga campuses today.
These biannual tests are part of the University’s ongoing work to ensure it is ready to respond to a range of risks on its campuses, and will help to improve existing emergency management processes.
Hamilton
1.30pm, Wednesday 7 May
Tauranga
1.30pm, Friday 9 May
At the Hamilton campus in Hillcrest, an emergency siren will sound for approximately three minutes. When used outside planned emergency tests, its purpose is to alert the University community and members of the public to a lockdown in response to a serious and imminent threat.
At the University’s Tauranga campus in the CBD, a PA announcement will be made alerting those in the building to the systems test.
At each campus, access-controlled doors will lock for approximately 15 minutes to test the ability of the campus to enter an immediate lockdown. However, campus users will still be able to leave buildings if required.
Members of the University community will also receive a text message through an emergency alert system at the beginning and end of each test at the campus they are primarily enrolled or employed at.
Emergency Services have been informed, and members of the public should not be alarmed if they hear the siren or become aware of the lockdowns at either location.
We encourage our community to think about what to do in an emergency situation on our campuses. In the event of an active incident, updates will be provided on a dedicated section of our website.
