Short answer. In New Zealand, call 111 in an emergency for Police, Fire or Ambulance, and 105 for Police non-emergencies 1. Civil defence is coordinated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA, civildefence.govt.nz) and regional Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups 3. NEMA's preparedness advice is at getready.govt.nz 2.
Which numbers should every household know?
| Service | Contact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency: Police, Fire, Ambulance | 111 | 1 |
| Police non-emergency | 105 (online: https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105) | 1 |
| National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) | https://www.civildefence.govt.nz | 3 |
| Get Ready (public preparedness site) | https://getready.govt.nz | 2 |
When should I call 111 rather than 105?
Call 111 when you need Police, Fire or Ambulance in an emergency 1. Use 105 for Police matters that are not emergencies 1.
Who runs civil defence in New Zealand?
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) coordinates civil defence nationally, with regional Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Groups 3. During an emergency, your regional CDEM Group or council announces local information, such as which Civil Defence Centres are open, on its website, social media and radio; see Public shelters in New Zealand.
NEMA, CDEM Groups, New Zealand Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Primary Industries can send warnings to phones through Emergency Mobile Alert 3. See How do emergency alerts work in New Zealand?.
How do I keep these numbers available if my phone fails?
Keep a portable phone charger in each grab bag, and a radio and batteries at home, as NEMA recommends 2. For a household contact plan, see How do I make a family emergency plan?. For power cuts, see How do you prepare for a long power outage?.
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number in New Zealand?
111, for Police, Fire and Ambulance 1.
What is 105 in New Zealand?
The Police non-emergency number 1.
Is there a civil defence phone line?
None is listed in the official sources used here. Civil defence information comes from NEMA, your regional CDEM Group or council, and Emergency Mobile Alert 3.
Where is New Zealand's official preparedness advice?
On NEMA's Get Ready site, getready.govt.nz 2.
Sources
- New Zealand Police — 111 Police Emergency — https://www.police.govt.nz/contact-us/111-police-emergency (accessed 2026-10-20)
- National Emergency Management Agency (Get Ready) — Work out what supplies you need (large print, file aug26, produced 2022) — https://getready.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/documents/alternate-formats/large-print/docx/21-supplies-lp-en-aug26.docx (accessed 2026-10-20)
- National Emergency Management Agency (Get Ready) — Emergency Mobile Alert (factsheet, large print) — https://getready.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/documents/alternate-formats/large-print/docx/36-ema-factsheet-lp-en-sep22.docx (accessed 2026-10-20)
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Sources
- New Zealand Police · 111 Police Emergency checked 2026-10-20
- National Emergency Management Agency (Get Ready) · Work out what supplies you need (large print, file aug26, produced 2022) checked 2026-10-20
- National Emergency Management Agency (Get Ready) · Emergency Mobile Alert (factsheet, large print) checked 2026-10-20