At 9:26am on September 26, nationwide broadcasters and many shops and businesses will play the civil defence "sting" to start New Zealand ShakeOut, our first ever nationwide earthquake drill.

The sting is the electronic alert broadcasters would play before an official civil defence announcement. Newstalk ZB, Classic Hits, Radio Live, More FM, The Breeze and Radio Rhema will broadcast it to start the New Zealand ShakeOut drill. It will be preceded by an announcement that it is a drill and there is no real emergency.

TVNZ will be broadcasting a school earthquake drill, live from Mt Eden Normal Primary School.

Several nationwide retailers and many businesses will play the sting to announce the drill to their customers and staff.