"Misleading" advice about what to do in an earthquake should be ignored, says the Ministry of Civil Defence.
It warned today that an email, known as the 'triangle of life' from a "discredited source" overseas, was being circulated in New Zealand.
The email discouraged people from taking conventional advice to 'drop cover and hold' under doorways or furniture.
"With the continuing aftershocks in the Canterbury region it is especially important the drop cover and hold advice continues to be followed," Civil Defence director John Hamilton said.
Civil Defence had received numerous queries from MPs, schools, Citizens' Advice Bureaux, media and the public about the "misleading advice", which included the "dangerous statement" that people who took cover under objects such as desks or cars, would be crushed, he said.
Mr Hamilton said the drill to drop and take cover was still the best advice to keep safe when a quake struck.
"In a severe earthquake it is absolutely vital that people respond immediately. Confusion about what to do can result in people getting seriously injured or killed," he said.
