New Zealand Public Safety Network

Nationwide Communications System

It’s a new, nationwide communications system for frontline emergency responders. It combines:

• a digital Land Mobile Radio (LMR) network

• multi-network Cellular Services (roaming and priority access)

• Personal Alerting capabilities

Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC) leads the project for Police, Fire and Emergency NZ, Hato Hone St John, and Wellington Free Ambulance. Others may join later.

Why it matters

• Replaces old analogue systems

• Offers secure, digital, resilient communication

• Designed for everyday use and large emergencies across urban, rural, and remote areas

• Supports voice, messaging, data and media to improve coordination across agencies

Questions and Answers — Core Insights

• The PSN blends cellular, LMR, and personal alerting to form one unified, resilient ecosystem

  • Questions and Answers

• It replaces aging infrastructure no longer fit for purpose.

• It strengthens multi-agency collaboration during emergencies—more secure, efficient communication.

• Other safety groups might join the Cellular Services. A discovery phase starts May–June 2025.

• Old radio networks remain in service until the LMR system is ready region by region.

Project Timing

• LMR rollout begins in Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland in 2025

• Remaining eight regions follow through 2025–2026

  • The Critical Communications Review

• Full usage by all agencies across all 11 regions expected by early to mid-2028 due to complexity and smooth transition requirements

Cellular Services

• Uses both Spark and One NZ networks via a single PSN SIM for seamless coverage

• Automatic switch-over ensures coverage even if one network fails—especially valuable in rural areas

• By Dec 2024, over 22,000 users made use of Cellular Roaming more than 855,000 times

• Cellular Priority launched Nov 2024: first responders get priority access when networks are congested

• Over 6,000 users had access in late 2024. Expected to grow to 20,000 by mid-2025 and 35,000 by 2026

  • Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service

Land Mobile Radio Network

• A secure, encrypted national digital LMR system acts as a network of last resort when cellular fails

• Built with ~500 radio sites by Tait Systems NZ (formerly Tait–Kordia JV), to be completed by end 2026

• A pilot with eight transmission sites ran in South Canterbury mid-2024 for live testing; existing systems remained active during this phase

• Over 7,000 vehicles, 1,000 buildings, and 10,000 portables will be equipped by mid-2026

Summary Table

Why It Matters to You

You're ensuring response teams stay connected when it matters most. PSN blends resilience, coverage, and priority access to support your teams across every terrain.

• It solves existing network weaknesses exposed by events like Cyclone Gabrielle.

• It future-proofs emergency comms with both digital radio and advanced cellular tools.

Additional Visual

Here’s an image showing emergency personnel and equipment standing ready, symbolising the human side of PSN’s impact.

Thought-Provoking Questions for You

How could personal alerting integrate with cellular and radio tools to improve safety?

Personal alerting can act as the “third layer” of the Public Safety Network, reinforcing both radio and cellular. Here’s how it could integrate to improve safety:

• Redundancy
  If radio or cellular fails, personal alerting ensures messages like evacuation orders or critical updates still get through.

• Parallel Channels
  Alerts can be sent over LMR, cellular, and the personal alerting system simultaneously. That way, responders don’t rely on a single network.

• Targeted Communication
  Alerts can go to specific teams or individuals. For example, a hazardous materials unit could receive tailored warnings while others get general updates.

• Confirmation Features
  Some systems allow recipients to acknowledge receipt. This ensures command knows who has seen the alert and who hasn’t.

• Multi-Device Reach
  Alerts can trigger radios, smartphones, or pagers at once. A firefighter underground might miss a call but get a vibrating pager alert.

• Integration with GPS
  Alerts could be location-based. A team working in a danger zone gets an immediate warning while those outside aren’t distracted.

• Automated Escalation
  If someone doesn’t respond via radio, the system can automatically push the alert to their phone or pager.

What uniform training will your team need across these technologies?

Your team will need consistent, scenario-based training across all three technologies—Land Mobile Radio (LMR), cellular services, and personal alerting—so they can switch between them seamlessly under pressure.

Here’s a breakdown of the core training areas:

• Device Familiarisation

  • How to use handheld radios, vehicle units, and accessories with gloves or in low light

  • How to switch between analogue, digital, and encrypted channels

  • How to insert and manage dual-network PSN SIM cards

• Communication Protocols

  • Standard call procedures across radio and cellular

  • Priority calling protocols during congestion

  • Clear, concise language guidelines to avoid confusion

• Interoperability Drills

  • Exercises involving multiple agencies (Police, Fire, Ambulance)

  • Cross-technology scenarios: e.g., radio handover to cellular or personal alerting backup

• Alerting and Escalation

  • How personal alerts are received and acknowledged

  • Escalation pathways if alerts aren’t confirmed

  • Role of supervisors in monitoring acknowledgements

• Failure Mode Response

  • What to do if LMR goes down—switching to cellular

  • What to do if cellular is overloaded—falling back to LMR and personal alerting

  • Ensuring teams still function in “black spots”

• Location and Safety Features

  • Using GPS-enabled radios for tracking personnel

  • Responding to location-based alerts

  • Integrating this with command centre workflows

• Scenario-Based Simulations

  • Cyclone response where cellular drops out, relying on LMR and personal alerts

  • Mass casualty event where congestion requires cellular priority protocols

  • Rural wildfire where all three systems must be used in sequence

Could other agencies benefit from joining the PSN ecosystem?

Yes—many agencies outside the core four (Police, Fire and Emergency NZ, Hato Hone St John, Wellington Free Ambulance) could benefit from joining the Public Safety Network (PSN).

Here’s who and how:

• Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM)

  • Coordinating across local councils during floods, earthquakes, or cyclones

  • Shared communication with frontline responders instead of relying on patchwork radio networks

• Search and Rescue (SAR)

  • LandSAR, Coastguard, and volunteer rescue teams could gain secure, reliable comms in remote areas

  • Ability to integrate location tracking for teams in difficult terrain

• Aviation and Maritime Authorities

  • Air traffic coordination in disaster zones

  • Ports and harbourmasters linking directly with emergency responders during maritime incidents

• Transport Agencies

  • Waka Kotahi NZTA and rail operators managing evacuations or major crashes

  • Direct link to emergency services without waiting for relayed updates

• Utilities and Critical Infrastructure Operators

  • Power companies, water authorities, and telecoms often need to coordinate restoration work during disasters

  • Access to PSN could cut delays and improve safety in high-risk environments

• Hospitals and Health Services

  • Emergency departments could receive alerts directly when mass casualty events occur

  • Better coordination between ambulance services and hospital staff

• Volunteer and Community First Responders

  • Rural fire brigades and medical responders often rely on patchy coverage

  • PSN would give them more reliable links to command