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How, if at all, does the expansion of Next Generation Critical Communications' mandate to the 'wider emergency management sector', as announced by the Minister in November 2025, extend the proposed customer base to iwi-led emergency response groups and marae?

Answered Question 30118 (2026)
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Asked by

Cushla Tangaere-Manuel

Member for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti · Labour Party

Question

  • How, if at all, does the expansion of Next Generation Critical Communications' mandate to the 'wider emergency management sector', as announced by the Minister in November 2025, extend the proposed customer base to iwi-led emergency response groups and marae?

Answered by

Hon Mark Mitchell

Member for Whangaparāoa · National Party · Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery

Answer

SafetyNet Critical Communications (SafetyNet) was established in 2020 as Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC), a business unit hosted within Police. It was funded and mandated to deliver the Public Safety Network for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Hato Hone St John, Wellington Free Ambulance, and Police. In November 2025, the Government directed NGCC to transition from Police and become a Crown company, enabling it to onboard additional public safety sector customers on a commercial basis, including central and local government agencies, iwi and marae, not-for-profit organisations, and infrastructure and utility companies.