111 Contact Code

The 111 Contact Code

The 111 Contact Code ensures that people who are more likely to need to contact 111, and who have a phone service that doesn’t work in a power failure (with no other means of contacting 111 at their premises), are provided with a means to contact the 111 emergency service. Telesmart is committed to the health and safety of its customers, and has collaborated with the New Zealand Commerce Commission and the New Zealand Telecommunications Forum to establish this code.

Telephony services provided by Telesmart that may not function during a power failure

The following services provided by Telesmart may not function during a power failure at the customer premises, unless that premises has backup power such as an uninterruptible power supply and/or generator:

• SIP telephone lines
• Cloud Calling for Microsoft Teams
• Voice Now

Telecommunications devices that may not function during a power failure

The following physical devices may not function during a power failure:

• Telephone and DECT handsets
• PABX Systems

In addition, the following hardware that the above equipment relies on to provide power and/or data communications may not function during a power failure:

• UFB/Fibre ONTs
• Routers
• Switches (With or without Power over Ethernet)

Alternative means of contacting emergency services during a power failure

Please use your mobile phone to dial 111 in the event of an emergency.  If you do not have unrestricted access to a mobile phone, then you may be eligible to register as a vulnerable consumer by following the process below.

Criteria for becoming registered as a “Vulnerable Consumer”

To be covered by the 111 Contact Code and apply to become registered as a “Vulnerable Consumer”, a person must

• be at particular risk of requiring the 111 emergency service (either now or sometime in the near future) due to health, safety or disability reasons; and
• in the event of a power failure, not have a means to contact the 111 emergency service at their premises that can work for a continuous 8-hour period. ie a mobile phone.

How the process works

If you feel you qualify to be registered as a vulnerable consumer, please fill out the form below or contact Telesmart. Once you have filled out the form, your application will be considered and we will contact you to discuss your application further.

If your application is approved, Telesmart will provide your premises with either a mobile phone or backup power supply capable of providing access to 111 emergency services for a minimum of 8 hours during a power failure.  This equipment will be provided free of charge, and we will check every 12 months to ensure it remains necessary and fit for purpose.

No telecommunications provider in New Zealand is permitted to deny or cease offering retail landline services to a customer on the basis that they know or suspect that a customer may be a vulnerable consumer.

Complaints

You, or a representative, may make a complaint related to a matter arising under the 111 Contact Code application process to the Industry Dispute Resolution Scheme, or to the Commerce Commission.

The Form

To fill in the form, please click the button below: