8 August 2025
B White
[FYI request #31832 email]
Reference: OIA-2025/26-0065
Dear B White
Official Information Act request relating to the link between the national emergency
alerts and the discovery of contraband cell phones
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 31 July 2025.
You requested:
“I am interested if there is any link between the National Emergency Alerts and the
discovery of contraband cell phones in NZ prisons. I have asked Corrections to
supply data on the number of contraband cell phones discovered, by day over the
year to 31 July 2025. Please supply the dates which the National Emergency
Management Agency has pushed emergency alerts to cell phones over the same
period for comparison of the two datasets.”
On 6 August 2025 we confirmed with you that you were seeking information for the following
date range:
“I intended it to be the 12 months to 31 July 2025, not the calendar year to date.”
I can confirm that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) issued nine
Emergency Mobile Alerts from 31 July 2024 to 31 July 2025. The dates the Emergency
Mobile Alerts were issued by NEMA are listed below:
4 October 2024
4 October 2024
5 October 2024
25 March 2025
25 March 2025
9 April 2025
25 May 2025 (nationwide test message)
30 July 2025
31 July 2025
For completeness, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my
decision under section 28(3) of the Act.
Level 7, TSB Building, 147 Lambton Quay | PO Box 5010 | Wellington 6140 | New Zealand
Tel: +64 4 830 5100 | [email address] | www.civildefence.govt.nz
This response wil be published on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s
website during our regular publication cycle. Typically, information is released monthly, or as
otherwise determined. Your personal information including name and contact details will be
removed for publication.
Yours sincerely
Sarah Holland
Chief Advisor to the Chief Executive
5092947
2
