Police are working to resolve an outage to the national 111 text service which allows those with hearing or speech difficulties to contact emergency services by text.
The outage began approximately 4:30am this morning and affects the ability receive text messages from people registered to the emergency service. It is also affecting text messages which are then directed to Ambulance and the New Zealand Fire Service.
In an emergency during this outage, registered 111 TXT users should seek appropriate help - whether this is a partner, family, neighbours or people nearby - to contact 111.
Police are working to restore the service as soon as possible although an estimated time is not yet available.
The 111 TXT service receives around 10 messages per week from registered users, which the majority are internal test messages. It has been running since October 2010 and provides assistance for the hearing impaired to contact emergency services.
ENDS
Issued by Amy Stewart-Badger, Media Advisor, PNHQ.