Only 15 percent of New Zealand households have the most basic provisions needed to survive for three days, should disaster strike.
While 87 percent of houses had three days' supply of food, 41 percent had three days' of water and only 26 percent had a household emergency plan, a Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) study said.
All three items together - food, water and a plan - were considered the basic preparations for natural disaster, SNZ manager Conal Smith said.
Only 11 percent of households had made "better preparation", having a torch, portable radio and batteries, a first aid kit, as well as three days' food and water and a plan.
One quarter of households with heavy and tall furniture had it safely secured in case of an earthquake, while 73 percent had secured their hot water cylinders. The statistics came from the New Zealand general social survey, which gathered information from more than 8000 people between April 2008 and March 2009.
The information was particularly timely, given the recent natural disasters hitting Pacific neighbours, Mr Smith said.
