Emergency Mobile Alerts are different to the existing text alert platform in place in the Bay of Plenty.
Mobile phone and internet traffic can easily overload the network, where as Emergency Mobile Alerts use a dedicated cell broadcasting channel. This means that all capable phones in the targeted area will get that notification at the same time.
"In an emergency we make use of all available channels to alert people. That's because people get their information from different places and every channel has its advantages and disadvantages. For example not all phones are capable of receiving these alerts, not everyone is signed up to Facebook and not everyone listens to the radio. We will be using this new system in addition to our existing suite of alerting tools," said Naude.
Minister of Civil Defence, Kris Faafoi, said Emergency Mobile Alerts were an additional channel to help keep New Zealand safe in an emergency and did not replace other alerting systems, or the need to take action after natural warnings.
"If you feel your life is in danger, don't wait for an official warning. Take immediate action."
Details
You can find out whether your phone has the required update and can receive the alerts at civildefence.govt.nz.
Emergency Mobile Alerts can only be sent by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management, Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups, NZ Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The nationwide test is a way to test systems, the cell towers and a phone's ability to receive an Emergency Mobile Alert.