# 111 emergency system: solid but fragile

> New Zealand's 111 emergency system works well but risks public safety as it ages.
- Title: 111 emergency system: solid but fragile · RNZ | Shortify
- Summary: New Zealand's 111 emergency system works well but risks public safety as it ages.
- Keywords: 111 emergency system, police, emergency response, public safety, new zealand, emergency services, 111 call system, safety risks, system fragility, police minister, RNZ
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/emergency/2600095/111-solid-fragile-effective-and-a-safety-risk-all-at-the-same-time
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-11-14T10:12:28+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: 111 emergency system, police, emergency response, public safety, new zealand, emergency services, 111 call system, safety risks, system fragility, police minister, politics, news
## 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
## Key takeaway

New Zealand's 111 emergency system remains effective but is increasingly fragile, creating safety risks for responders and the public.