Location Information Services

Globally, emergency services are increasingly benefiting from the precise, rapid location information cellular technology can provide to help locate people in an emergency. These location information services have become a critical component of emergency response systems.

Emergency Caller Location Information

In New Zealand, when a person calls 111 from a mobile device, the emergency call-taker automatically gets information about their location. This is Emergency Caller Location Information (ECLI) and has been in place since 2017. Find out more here.

Device Location Information

When a person has not themselves called 111 but there are grave fears for their health or safety, emergency services can locate their mobile device, subject to rigorous safeguards and controls.  This is Device Location Information (DLI) and has been in place from August 2025. Find out more here.

If you have received a text saying information about your device has been collected, you can find out how and why this has happened.

Protecting your information and your privacy

Location services are designed with controls to protect your privacy when you call 111 or when your life or health is considered to be at risk or threatened.

The Privacy Commissioner has authorised the use of Emergency Location Information via Schedule 4 of the Telecommunications Information Privacy Code(external link).

The Privacy Statement explains how ECLI and DLI comply with the code.

Who's involved

Emergency Location Information Services are operated in collaboration between: 

  • Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC)
  • emergency service providers (New Zealand Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance)
  • mobile network operators (2degrees, Spark and One NZ). 

Each agency has a role in the system: 

  • NGCC oversees the operation of the services which receive and process location information
  • the emergency service providers receive the location information and use it to verify location information, as part of their response
  • the mobile network operators provide location information for mobile phones. 

How to get more information or make a complaint

Requesting a record of your 111 call

You can request access to the part of the record of your 111 call transferred to the emergency service providers at the links listed below:

Requesting information about a notification text

If you have received a text about your location information being collected and you want more information, contact us.

Privacy

If you have privacy concerns, read the Privacy Statement which includes contact information. 

Mobile service complaints 

Contact your mobile network operator for any complaints relating to your mobile service:  

Emergency service complaints

Contact emergency service providers for any complaints relating to their services at these links:

General enquiries

For any general enquiries about Location Information Service, contact us.