If you receive a Civil Defence alert at 10am Friday, May 6, remain calm, it's only a test.

The Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group will be testing all the Civil Defence alerting systems across the Bay of Plenty, to make sure that the activation system is working correctly.

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence are testing their alert systems next Friday.

Text and email alerts will be sent and updates posted on Facebook, Twitter, and the Civil Defence website.

This is only a test, to make sure that the activation system is working correctly, so no action is necessary.

Emergency Management Bay of Plenty Director Clinton Naude says in a real event, people should tune in to the radio for instructions and more information about a potential threat to the region.

'More FM, Newstalk ZB, National Radio or The Hits are the key stations for Rotorua, Tauranga, and Western Bay of Plenty. 1XX for the Eastern Bay.”

Fixed sirens in the Whakatane and Opotiki districts will also be tested. There are no fixed sirens in Kawerau, Rotorua, Tauranga City or Western Bay of Plenty District, so people in those areas will not hear sirens.

Clinton hopes the test will also prompt local people to make sure they're prepared for a Civil Defence emergency.

'There are simple things we can all do now. Sign up to text and email alerts at www.bopcivildefence.govt.nz, prepare a survival kit, and talk to the family. You can find out more about getting prepared at www.getthru.govt.nz.”