2000s
- Cell phone calls account for nearly 20% of 111 calls for ambulance by 2000 – bringing new challenges for Communications Centres which now receive multiple calls from one accident or incident. By 2008, cell phones calls are exceeding 30% of 111 calls to Ambulance.
- Rationalisation of Ambulance services to 8, made up of 5 St John regions, Wellington Free Ambulance, and the Taranaki District Health Board and Wairarapa District Health Board Ambulance Services.
- For the first time, the Ambulance Communications Centres are operating with standardised procedures and equipment nationwide, with inter-connected telephone, paging, radio and dispatching systems. Full back-up arrangements mean the Centres can support each other during times of unprecedented demand or a Civil Defence Emergency.
2005
After lapses in the Police 111 service, an Independent Review of the Police Communications Centres releases its report. Government invests $45 million in more staff, improved training, management and supervision.
2006
Huge increases in mobile phone ownership mean multiple 111 calls about the same incident are an everyday event.
2007
- New Zealanders own one mobile phone per head of population.
- The Telecom network (including wholesale) has about 1.4 million residential connections.
- Rationalisation of Ambulance Communications Centres to 3, operating as 1 virtual entity, under national project led by St John. The Ambulance Communications Centres are in Auckland and Christchurch (both fully owned and operated by St John); and in Wellington (50 / 50 joint venture partnership by St John and Wellington Free Ambulance). The new Ambulance Communications Centre environment became fully operational from March 2007.
2008
- Since 2001, Telecom operators have answered 18 million 111 calls.
- Fire, Ambulance and Police mark 50 years of 111.
- 111 calls for ambulance from cellphones exceed 30% by 2008.
