Emergency numbers in New Zealand

If you are ever faced with an emergency situation while in New Zealand, dial 111 for police, ambulance and/or fire services.

This number is free whether you are calling from a cell phone, a landline or a phone booth. In the case of the cell phone, you can still make the call even if you have run out of credit.

If you need more than one service (i.e. in the event of a car crash you might need the police and an ambulance), ask for the service needed most urgently. Police, fire and ambulance have links to one another and the first service to get your call will let the others know.

If you’re driving on a New Zealand road and spot poor driving behaviour, non-urgent traffic incidents and road hazards, you should dial *555 to report the situation to the Police Communications Centre. The centre receives approximately 320,000 calls every year.

People with hearing or speech impairments should dial 0800 16 16 16 (TTY phone only) or fax 0800 16 16 10.

If you are still used to the emergency number in your previous country and, in an emergency situation, cannot remember the New Zealand number, you will be glad to know that many foreign emergency numbers in New Zealand get redirected to 111, if you dial from a mobile phone. Numbers such as the popular European 112 or the American 911 will get you through to 111.