Four million mobile phones are in line to pick up a loud emergency test alert this weekend as part of a nationwide test.
The sound of the test alert will be distinct and noisy, but not to the extent of causing too much fright, says Sarah Stuart-Black, director of Civil Defence and Emergency Management. Photo: 123RF
The alert will be broadcast between 6pm and 7pm on Sunday.
Sarah Stuart-Black, director of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, told RNZ's Morning Report the tests were an opportunity to further increase coverage of the broadcast and make sure the system worked, after only six out of 10 phones picked up the alert last year.
However, she said the 2018 percentage rate was considered a success and exceeded expectations, given that it was only the second year the technology had been deployed in New Zealand.
Cell Broadcast (CB) is a method of sending messages to multiple mobile telephone users in a defined area at the same time. It is a one-to-many geo-targeted and "geo-fenced" messaging service.
"This has only been live for two years and last year that was well above what we expected. The reason being that this is brand new technology for New Zealand, it's cell broadcasting, rather than text messages," she said.
"So what that means is a cell site from a mobile provider will basically broadcast the message and any phone nearby that is enabled with this technology will receive it on their phones.
"This is purely a message broadcast across a geographical area," - Sarah Stuart-Black, director of Civil Defence and Emergency Management
"It's not like we're picking out your mobile phone ... this is purely a message broadcast across a geographical area."
In the first year, the alert reached 34 percent of target mobiles. Ms Stuart-Black was hopeful the progression would continue, tracking towards reaching a 70 percent "critical mass" of mobiles, possibly next year.
"This means that people will either receive the message on their phone or be near someone who receives it on their's," she said.
It was also an opportunity to get people aware of what a real emergency alarm sounded like, so people could immediately identify the danger and make appropriate plans.
The sound of the test alert would be distinct and noisy, but not to the extent of causing too much fright or distraction to anyone driving or otherwise preoccupied.
"This purpose of this is for when there's real threat of life, health or property, so we're not using it for much more low-level issues. If you're driving and it goes off you need to pull over when you can safely."
The alarm was used during the SkyCity Convention Centre blaze in Auckland at the end of October, informing people of the dangers of coming into the CBD. Ms Stuart-Black said only people living in the fixed geographical range set by the technology were notified.
"We're trying to make sure we minimise disruption for those that aren't directly impacted, but it means if you were to drive into the area were the messages are broadcast, that message will appear on your phone. So this is a fantastic technology."