Q. I have more than one mobile phone. Can I register them all?
Yes, if you have more than one mobile phone you will need to register each one separately.
111 TXT rules (terms and conditions)
There are some things you need to know and agree to before you join 111 TXT.
You must be deaf, hearing or speech impaired:
By accepting these rules, you have confirmed you are deaf, hearing or speech impaired.
Network delays:
You need to know that sometimes there are delays on the mobile phone network.
This means texts don’t get through straight away.
If this happens in an emergency and you don’t get a text back from Police in 2 minutes, you should contact 111 a different way.
Text from a phone you have registered on the Police website:
You must text 111 from a phone number you registered on the Police website, otherwise your text won't go through.
If you use a phone belonging to someone who hasn’t registered, the text won’t go through.
Police initiated text messages:
At times Police may initiate a text message (SMS) to registered users of the 111 TXT service for emergency or administrative reasons.
Police will endeavour to sign any TXT’s initiated by us as 'from NZ Police'.
Tell Police if you need to update your information:
If you change anything like your name, phone number or address, make sure you come back to www.police.govt.nz/111-txt, 'Change My Registration', and put in the new information.
This is very important because if you have an emergency, Police will have your new information and can help you.
Emergency Caller Location Information (ECLI):
If you text 111 from a smartphone and the phone number has been registered for the 111 TXT service, Emergency Services may be provided with the best available location information from that handset.
The ECLI service is not designed to replace the standard process of you providing details of the emergency location in the initial text message (SMS). In some circumstances ECLI enhances the process of verifying the emergency location by providing supplementary information.
It is important to note that the provision of location data for 111 TXT is not a guaranteed service as it is dependent on a number of factors including the phone make, model, software version, and updates installed.
The system is managed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the process and system is regulated by the Privacy Commissioner under a Code of Practice (PDF 316KB). Police will only hold the ECLI for the purpose of responding to an emergency call/text and will keep a record of the information that was relied upon to respond to that emergency call/text.
To access more detailed information about ECLI please refer to the Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC) website.
Using 111 TXT – questions and answers
Common questions and answers about using 111 TXT.
What is a police emergency?
Police emergencies when you should text 111 are when any of these things are happening now or have just happened:
- someone is badly injured or in danger, for example there's been a car crash and people are hurt;
- there’s a serious risk to life or property, like when a fight breaks out in the street;
- a crime is happening and the person who did it is still there or has just left, for example when someone is in your neighbour's garden and you see them break into the house;
- something has happened that could be dangerous, like trees blocking a road.
If you need to report something that's not urgent, you should visit your nearest police station.
Examples of non-emergencies are when you find out today that your bike was stolen yesterday or someone put graffiti on your fence last night.
If you're not sure if it's an emergency, text 111 and ask. We'll help you work out what to do.
What is a medical emergency?
Medical emergencies when you should text 111 are when:
- Someone has difficulty breathing.
- Someone has chest pain. This can feel like a ‘weight’ or a ‘squeezing feeling’ in your chest.
- Someone fainting or being unconscious.
- Someone may have had a stroke. They may have suddenly gone weak, their vision has changed, they are dizzy or have difficulty talking.
- Someone has severe pain anywhere.
- Someone has bleeding that won’t stop.
- There’s been a car crash and people are injured.
Examples of medical non-emergencies are:
- Generally being unwell - unless you have some of the symptoms listed above.
- Minor injuries like sprains or small cuts – provided they’re not bleeding uncontrollably.
- Minor burns – burns that are smaller than twice the size of your hand.
- Coughs or colds.
- If you need to report something that's not a medical emergency, you should see your doctor.
What is a fire emergency?
Anything that could cause loss of life, serious injury or loss of property is a Fire Service emergency. Situations where you should text 111 immediately include:
- A fire in your house. Get out - stay out.
- You notice a burning smell in your house but you're not sure where it's coming from.
- You see or smell what looks like a house fire in a neighbouring property.
- You see a car crash, car fire or people trapped.
- You notice a gas leak from a broken pipe. Move away from the leak to where there is no smell.
- You or your property are in serious danger from storm damage.
Sometimes there are delays on the phone network. If Police don't text you back in 2 minutes, contact 111 another way.
Using 111 TXT
Questions
If you need police, they might ask questions.
For example, what a burglar was wearing, what sort of car they had, where they went.
Hearing people get asked too.
It won't delay Police arriving. They'll be on their way while another Police person asks you questions.
Instructions
Do what Police tell you to do.
They might say "stay where you are".
That's to keep you safe.
Or maybe they want to find out more about what you saw.
When to stop TXTing
Police will tell you when to stop TXTing.
TXT again if anything changes or gets worse.
Or if the fire engine, ambulance or police car hasn't arrived when you expected it.
Remember – if you haven't registered, your 111 TXT won't get through.
How to register for 111 TXT – questions and answers
Here are some common questions and answers about registering for 111 TXT.
How to register for 111 TXT
For now, 111 TXT is only for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired.
You must register for it to work.
To register for 111 TXT you need to set up a 'My Registration' account. It's how you enter your information into the Police application. Then in an emergency, they know you're deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired.
Important: This service is best accessed using a desktop computer or laptop with the latest version of the following web browsers:
- Microsoft Edge
- Google Chrome
- Safari (if using an Apple device)
- Mozilla Firefox
Using a mobile phone, tablet/iPad and a different web browser version may generate issues in the registration process.
If you are using a mobile device, make sure to use its native browser. For iPhone users, this would be Safari, and for Android users it will be Google Chrome.