From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 1m 10s
111 emergency system: solid but fragile
New Zealand's 111 emergency system works well but risks public safety as it ages.
In brief
New Zealand's 111 emergency system works well but risks public safety as it ages. New Zealand's 111 emergency system remains effective but is increasingly fragile, creating safety risks for responders and the public. Originally reported by RNZ.
111 system status
Police say the 111 emergency call system is solid and effective despite reports calling it increasingly fragile.
“Police say the 111 emergency call system is "solid" and "effective", despite their own reports to the government calling it "increasingly fragile"”
System age and replacement
The 111 system uses 1990s technology and police aim to replace it but cannot give a timeline for delivery.
“The system is built on 1990s technology and police are working to find a replacement, but were unable to give a timeline to rnz for delivering one”
Police response to RNZ
Inspector Natasha Rodley says the system is effective but has opportunities for improvement to make it more modern and accessible.
“We actually think they both are true”
2023 police reports
Police reports from 2023 detailed deaths and injuries linked to system constraints and failures, as revealed by rnz in 2024.
“Police reports to the government in 2023 detailed how that was not always the case - they described actual deaths and injury related to constraints or failures in the system”
April 2026 report
An April 2026 report identified seven key vulnerabilities in the system that create safety risks for emergency responders.
“The system has faced persistent reliability and performance issues, compounded by difficulties in integrating with other agencies”
System fragility concerns
The system's front end is privately run by Spark, creating challenges in sharing information between emergency services.
“Maybe all three emergency services need to be involved and they are all not able to be contacted at the same time”
Timeline for replacement
Police aim to have a new 111 system by the 2027/28 financial year but cannot confirm a specific date.
“The improvement plan in april 2026 said a new 111 system might be in place in the 2027/28 financial year”
The bottom line
New Zealand's 111 emergency system remains effective but is increasingly fragile, creating safety risks for responders and the public.
