PSN Land Mobile Radio network

For emergency services only

A secure, encrypted digital radio network for New Zealand's emergency services, including to support multi-agency communications. 

radio
Service
Cellular services
Delivered by
SafetyNet
Powered by
Tait Systems NZ
Overview

A new Land Mobile Radio network

Worldwide over many decades, land mobile radio technology has been relied on by millions of emergency responders for their voice communications. Whether it’s for day-to-day safety or large emergencies, the radio network remains a tested and trusted way to communicate.

To make a call, a user presses a push to talk button, speaks, and then releases the button to put the radio into receive mode. Communication is quick and simple enabling frontline responders to share and access the information they need to do their jobs and stay safe.

The Public Safety Network's new Land Mobile Radio network is being introduced to provide digital, encrypted, resilient communications for New Zealand's emergency responders. For the first time in New Zealand's history Police, Hato Hone St John, Wellington Free Ambulance and Fire and Emergency NZ will be on the same radio network making it easier to work together and stay safe as they serve the community.

The new digital radio network also offers improved officer safety features, including the ability to locate responders quickly and providing a duress button for responders to let home base know they need immediate help. 

How it works

A new Land Mobile Radio network for our emergency services

Firefighter
Features
  1. Connection
    Work together using shared channels

    The network offers shared channels for the emergency services so they can coordinate operations when working together, especially in large emergencies when real-time coordination and safety are top priorities.

  2. Coverage
    Bringing resilience and reliability

    Broad coverage provides voice and messaging services in areas where cellular service is not available. The network can also dedicate capacity and channels during specific ‘surge’ events, meaning calls can be made concurrently without overloading the network. 

    The new LMR radio network complemented by the PSN Cellular Services will deliver a more resilient and reliable communications capability for our emergency services, and that's good news for all New Zealanders.  

  3. Environment
    Built for New Zealand’s conditions

    Designed as a 'network of last resort' to be resilient in New Zealand’s extreme weather conditions where communication is key to keep emergency response teams and the people they help safe.

Build progress

Expanding radio transmission one region at a time

The new 500 site network is one of the largest and most complex radio network builds anywhere in the world right now. It is being built and rolled out for the emergency services in 11 regions across 2026 and 2027. As of November 2025, all radio transmission sites have been built for Wellington and Canterbury with Auckland on track to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. These three regions cover where 60% of New Zealanders live and are served by the emergency services.

Work on the construction of radio transmission sites to cover the rest of New Zealand is also underway in the eight remaining LMR network regions.

The sites

For the network to deliver what our emergency services need, sites are required across New Zealand in both rural and urban areas reflecting the places where the emergency services are called on for support.

Wherever possible the radio network's vendor, Tait Systems NZ, is adding new equipment to existing telecommunication network sites. Where that’s not possible, they are building new standalone facilities on road reserves, private land and commercial buildings.

They consider several factors when choosing sites. The most important is coverage for the emergency services. Other factors include technical requirements such as connectivity to the rest of the network, power, security, resilience, and risk from natural hazards. Other considerations include impacts on existing land use and cost.

The towers

The radio network towers can provide coverage for the emergency services over a wide range of distances – some focus on short range transmission and others can reach up to hundreds of kilometres - depending on the terrain and other conditions.

They are much like existing mobile network towers – generally made up of a pole around 15 meters tall, broadcasting and receiving equipment, and security infrastructure.

The towers are designed in line with all relevant safety, environmental and technical requirements, standards and guidelines. The network poses no risk to public health.

Testing and readiness

The manufacture and installation of more than 22,000 radio terminals for emergency vehicles, stations, buildings and personnel required to use the new network is well underway.

Following an early small-scale period of network testing in South Canterbury, NGCC, Tait Systems NZ and the emergency services are in a six-month period of extensive testing using a fully-functioning LMR network environment in Canterbury.

This includes the emergency services using operational scenarios, including those where they will be working together, to test technology, coverage and resilience, and all associated systems and processes.

This important period is about ensuring when emergency responders push the button on their radios using the new network, it will work every time. The safety of those responders and the public they serve depends on it.

Tait Systems NZ

Delivered and built by Tait Systems NZ

Tait Systems New Zealand (TSNZ) are building the new radio network – putting trusted P25 technology used by emergency services around the world into a network of over 500 sites built for New Zealand’s conditions and communities.

TSNZ is part of Tait Communications - a global, New Zealand-based company headquartered in Christchurch.

Learn more(external link)