New Zealand emergency service organisations are hosting the National Emergency Communications Working Group – Australia and New Zealand (NECWG-A/NZ) bi-annual conference in Christchurch.
It’s being held from Wednesday 23 May to Friday 25 May.
New Zealand last hosted the conference in 2013 in Wellington.
NECWG-A/NZ is a representative forum that deals with emergency communications contact and response matters across New Zealand and Australia, with calls to the emergency numbers 111 and 000.
Conference co-ordinator, Inspector Kieren Kortegast, Centre Manager of Police South Comms and NZ representative on NECWG-Aust/NZ Executive, says:
“Senior representatives from emergency service organisations and public safety agencies across both countries will participate. More than 90 people are expected to attend,” he says.
Attendees will discuss the next generation 111 and 000 and how this will affect both the community and first responders.
The chair of NECWG-A/NZ, Chris Beatson from NSW Police Force, says those attending the conference will hear from a range of speakers.
These include an international keynote speaker, Beniot Vivier from the European Emergency Number Association (EENA) who will discuss developments in Europe around public safety and first response.
PoliceLink Command Director, Chris Beatson, says the conference is looking forward to hearing from Ben Quay from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), who will discuss the implementation of Emergency Caller Location Information (ECLI) in NZ.
“New Zealand is leading the world in ensuring that location information of callers from mobile services to 111 is automatically provided to emergency service organisations in New Zealand,” says Mr Beatson.
“There is great value to attendees in travelling to Christchurch for the event, as other emergency service organisations can learn from the experience of Christchurch first responders and how they dealt with recent disasters, a subject that will be discussed over the three days,” says Inspector Kortegast.
More information about NECWG-A/NZ can be found by visiting necwg-anz.org.
The next conference will be held in Hobart, Australia in November 2018.
Note to media:
Reporters are welcome to attend the presentation by Beniot Vivier on Thursday 24 May from 8.50am to 10am.
South Comms Centre Manager Inspector Kieren Kortegast, National Manager: Communication Centres Supt Dave Trappitt, and Chris Beatson are available to talk to the media from Thursday.
ENDS
Police Media Centre