About Next Generation Critical Communications

NGCC Poutama Whai Tikanga Pāpāho was formed in 2020 as the government’s leading advisor on critical communications for public safety in New Zealand. Through leading-edge communication technology, NGCC is enabling the emergency services to maintain law and order, keep people safe, protect life and property, and deal with health events.

The wellbeing of five million New Zealanders and our international visitors is at the heart of our emergency services. NGCC works on behalf of the emergency services and their more than 39,000 staff and volunteers who receive more than two million calls for help every year. 

Communities expect that responding emergency services will be able to assist them when they call for help. For this to happen, and to stay safe, the emergency services rely on their cellular and radio communications and other key technologies. 

NGCC is evolving  

Since 2022, NGCC has been a unique cross-agency entity involving a core Government agency (Police), a Crown entity (Fire and Emergency New Zealand) and two non-government organisations (Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance) with a common vision to develop their shared critical communications capability through the Public Safety Network.

From 1 July 2026, NGCC will become a Crown company under Schedule 4A of the Public Finance Act 1989. Our primary focus will continue to be delivering and operating critical communications technology for the four emergency services but we will also be offering PSN Cellular Services to eligible organisations in the public safety and emergency management sector.

NGCC's increased remit positions us for an ongoing future of delivering common critical communications technologies to the emergency services and wider public safety sector.     

Please contact us for any inquiries about our services.