Civil Defence test alerts some

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Yesterday’s nationwide emergency phone alert test has been hailed a success — even though two-thirds of phones did not get the message.

Tairawhiti Civil Defence and Emergency Management training assistant Paul Stuart said while the outcome of the alert was positive, he had heard reports that similar phones in the same place did not go off simultaneously.

“Right from the outset, the alert system was only expected to reach one-third of all phones, because not all phones are capable (of receiving the message),” he said.

“I am aware that some phones that should be capable did not receive the alert.

“It is possible there is an emergency alert setting not switched on under notification settings.”

Not only should the ‘emergency alert’ setting be switched on, but the phones should have the latest operating system update installed, said Mr Stuart.

He was not aware of any major faults to the system but imported phones might have reacted differently.

“Some of the phones received multiple alerts at different times during the hour.

Some phones had a message that said ‘presidential alert’.

“It is most likely due to phones being imported with a default template in place,” Mr Stuart said

The number of alerts on the East Coast were expected to be significantly lower because of a lack of cellphone coverage across the district.

A Gisborne Herald Facebook post at 8am today asked who had received the alert.

It generated a large response.

At 10am, only 45 of the 160 contributors said they had received the test alert.

A great initiativeOne comment read: “yes I received it on my mobile and nearly died of fright.

“I was going to throw the phone out of the window until I realised what it was — much to the humour of the family.

“Great initiative.”

“I was at Pak’nSave and the whole supermarket erupted in alerts,” said another.

“Yes, while I was on 2 percent battery and trying to order pizza online.

“Then my phone died before I could submit my order.”