Emergency Mobile Alert
Matohi Waea Pūkoro Ohotata
Emergency Mobile Alert
Emergency Mobile Alerts are messages about emergencies sent by authorised emergency agencies to capable mobile phones. The alerts are designed to keep people safe and are broadcast to all capable phones from targeted cell towers.
The alerts can be targeted to areas affected by serious hazards and will only be sent when there is a serious threat to life, health or property, and, in some cases, for test purposes.
The 2019 nationwide test of Emergency Mobile Alert will be held on the evening of 24 November 2019. You should expect to receive a test alert that evening sometime between 6 and 7 pm.
Find out more about nationwide tests
How to get Emergency Mobile Alert
To get Emergency Mobile Alerts you need a phone capable of receiving Emergency Mobile Alerts. 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.
- Check if your phone is on the list of capable phones.
- Update your phone’s operating system software.
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.
Can I opt out of Emergency Mobile Alert?
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 will 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.
| ema-decision-statement-en-jul18.pdf | 312 KB |
More information and resources
We’ve compiled helpful answers to frequently asked questions about Emergency Mobile Alert.
This NZSL video gives an overview of Emergency Mobile Alert.
The Director's Statement for Emergency Mobile Alert Device Standards defines desired mobile device standards for emergency alerting in New Zealand.
| ema-director-statement-en-may18.pdf | 846 KB |
Download a helpful factsheet explaining the Emergency Mobile Alert system. Available in multiple languages.
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-ar-nov17.pdf | 120 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-bi-nov17.pdf | 91 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-ci-nov17.pdf | 102 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-en-nov17.pdf | 65 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-es-nov17.pdf | 93 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-fj-nov17.pdf | 88 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-gu-nov17.pdf | 124 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-hi-nov17.pdf | 122 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-ja-nov17.pdf | 152 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-ko-nov17.pdf | 198 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-mi-nov17.pdf | 92 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-my-nov17.pdf | 248 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-pa-nov17.pdf | 120 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-ru-nov17.pdf | 99 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-sm-nov17.pdf | 100 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-so-nov17.pdf | 93 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-ta-nov17.pdf | 126 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-th-nov17.pdf | 125 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-tl-nov17.pdf | 92 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-to-nov17.pdf | 100 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-ur-nov17.pdf | 160 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-vi-nov17.pdf | 137 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-zh-hans-nov17.pdf | 371 KB |
| ema-mobile-alert-fact-zh-hant-nov17.pdf | 318 KB |