Find out about Emergency Mobile Alert. Emergency Mobile Alerts keep people safe. Alerts are broadcast to all capable phones from targeted cell towers.
Emergency Mobile Alerts are messages about emergencies. They are sent by authorised emergency agencies to capable mobile phones. The alerts keep people safe and are broadcast to all capable phones from targeted cell towers.
The alerts are targeted to areas affected by serious hazards. They will only be sent when there is a serious threat to life, health or property, and, in some cases, for test purposes.
To make sure the system is working well a nationwide test of the Emergency Mobile Alert system is happening between 6-7pm on Sunday 22 May. An alert will be broadcast to all capable phones.
Give us feedback about Emergency Mobile Alert. Information collected in this survey helps us make ongoing improvements to system.
Give feedback on emergency mobile alertTo get Emergency Mobile Alerts, you need a phone capable of receiving them. The phone also needs to have cell reception and up-to-date software. You don’t have to download an app or subscribe to a service.
Please refer to your phone manual or talk to your mobile operator if you need help updating your phone.
We expect half of New Zealand's phones will be able to receive the alerts. We expect this number to rise over time.
As Emergency Mobile Alert is about keeping you safe, you won’t be able to opt out of receiving Emergency Mobile Alerts.
We do not target specific phones, instead we broadcast to a targeted area that is at risk. For this reason, we are unable to exclude your specific phone.
Your phone may show optional settings used in other countries, but in New Zealand we use a special broadcast channel that is permanently on.
Read the Decision for Emergency Mobile Alert to remain a non-opt-out channel for more information.
Download this factsheet in Te Reo Māori explaining the Emergency Mobile Alert system.