Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/33428-critical-communications-resilience-and-emergency-service-dependencies on January 29, 2026 03:56

Critical communications resilience and emergency service dependencies

Sam Brown made this Official Information request to National Emergency Management Agency

Currently waiting for a response from National Emergency Management Agency, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).

From: Sam Brown

Dear National Emergency Management Agency,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request information regarding emergency communications infrastructure and resilience planning:

1. Current emergency communications plans and protocols, including what percentage of critical communications capacity relies on satellite systems, and specifically, what proportion depends on foreign-controlled commercial satellite providers.

2. Any risk assessments, contingency plans, or advice regarding service continuity scenarios where satellite communications providers become unavailable, whether due to technical failure, withdrawal of service, foreign government direction to the provider, or geopolitical disruption.

3. Backup communications arrangements and redundancy planning for scenarios where primary satellite services are degraded or unavailable, including assessment of whether terrestrial alternatives provide adequate coverage for emergency response.

4. Any advice or analysis on the resilience implications of geographic concentration in critical communications infrastructure, or conversely the benefits of maintaining diverse technology platforms and multiple service providers.

5. Any review or assessment conducted following recent civil defence emergencies (such as Cyclone Gabrielle) regarding the performance and reliability of different communications technologies during extreme weather events or natural disasters.

6. Correspondence with telecommunications providers regarding service level expectations, prioritisation arrangements, or mandatory service continuation requirements during declared emergencies.

Context: I am seeking to understand whether emergency management planning adequately addresses resilience risks associated with critical infrastructure dependency on single providers or technology types, particularly foreign-controlled services.

Yours faithfully,

Sam Brown

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From: Information
National Emergency Management Agency

Kia ora,
 
Our office is currently closed for the Christmas/New Year period this
inbox is not being monitored. We will be back on Thursday January 8th
2026.
Please note, 25 December 2025 to 15 January 2026 are not considered
working days for the Official Information Act.
Have a good break,
NEMA

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From: Information
National Emergency Management Agency

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Kia ora Sam
 
Thank you for your OIA request received on 5 January 2026 for:
 
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request information regarding
emergency communications infrastructure and resilience planning:
1. Current emergency communications plans and protocols, including what
percentage of critical communications capacity relies on satellite
systems, and specifically, what proportion depends on foreign-controlled
commercial satellite providers.
2. Any risk assessments, contingency plans, or advice regarding service
continuity scenarios where satellite communications providers become
unavailable, whether due to technical failure, withdrawal of service,
foreign government direction to the provider, or geopolitical disruption.
3. Backup communications arrangements and redundancy planning for
scenarios where primary satellite services are degraded or unavailable,
including assessment of whether terrestrial alternatives provide adequate
coverage for emergency response.
4. Any advice or analysis on the resilience implications of geographic
concentration in critical communications infrastructure, or conversely the
benefits of maintaining diverse technology platforms and multiple service
providers.
5. Any review or assessment conducted following recent civil defence
emergencies (such as Cyclone Gabrielle) regarding the performance and
reliability of different communications technologies during extreme
weather events or natural disasters.
6. Correspondence with telecommunications providers regarding service
level expectations, prioritisation arrangements, or mandatory service
continuation requirements during declared emergencies.
 
This email confirms receipt of your request and advises that we will
respond to it as soon as reasonably practicable, and in terms of the
timeframes and requirements of the OIA. Please note that the OIA timeframe
might be impacted due to the holiday period between 25 December 2025 to
15 January 2026.

Please note that our response letter to you (with your personal details
redacted), and any enclosed documents, may be published on NEMA’s website.
 
Ngâ mihi
 
Emergency Management team
National Emergency Management Agency Te Rakau Whakamarumaru
[1]www.civildefence.govt.nz
Level 6, 23 Kate Sheppard Place | PO Box 5010, Wellington 6140, New
Zealand
Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. You can take steps to be
prepared.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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