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Device Location Information (DLI)

Device Location Information (DLI) is a new streamlined capability that enables emergency services to request the location of a mobile device where:

  • There hasn't been a 111 call from the device, or where a 111 call has ended unexpectedly, and
  • There's a situation deemed to be a serious threat to a person’s life or health as reported by someone else, for example a friend or family member.

Many calls to 111 are made by people concerned about others who are not with them, for example, someone who is lost, missing, or threatening self-harm. DLI helps emergency services respond faster and more effectively in these situations.

The DLI service expands on the existing Emergency Caller Location Information service (ECLI). ECLI immediately provides emergency services with the location of a mobile device used to make a 111 call. Learn more about ECLI

The Device Location Information (DLI) service uses network-based location estimates to provide the general location of the mobile device. This helps emergency services call takers and dispatchers see the device's likely location on a map, including if it moves.

The DLI service is a streamlined process. Previously, emergency service providers had to make a manual request to mobile network operators, which could take some time. In an emergency, every second counts.  

Device Location Information (DLI) can be used by the following services:

  • Fire and Emergency New Zealand
  • Wellington Free Ambulance
  • New Zealand Police
  • Hato Hone St John.

Maritime New Zealand can also request DLI through the New Zealand Police. This reflects the important role they play in responding to emergency situations.

When an emergency call taker assesses that a person’s life or health is at serious risk or threatened, they send a DLI request to an authorised commander within New Zealand Police. The commander must consider the reasons given, and the request can only be approved when they agree there is a significant threat to a person’s life or health.

Device Location Information (DLI) is enabled through amendments to Schedule 4 of the Telecommunications Information Privacy Code 2020, following public consultation by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

Emergency Services have a robust process for reviewing and authorising requests for DLI, to ensure it's only used for the intended purpose.

The Code requires collection of DLI to be disclosed. This means a follow-up text will be sent to the mobile device that has been searched for, advising that its location has been collected, when it was collected, and for what purpose (provided it’s safe to do so).

This enables individuals to query the collection of their mobile device’s location information if they believe it to have been unnecessary. If the emergency services consider sending the text would likely prejudice the physical or mental health of the individual concerned or another individual, then the text may be delayed for seven days or until safe to do so.

Anonymised data about the use of DLI will be collected by Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC) and regularly reported to the emergency services as part of their own internal monitoring and auditing processes.

A log of DLI use will be recorded and regularly reported to the Privacy Commissioner.

You can ask to access any of your information that Spark holds. For how to do this, see Ask about your personal information

If you've received a text about your location information being collected and you want more information, please email Next Generation Critical Communications via their website. Go to the NGCC website

  • The information Spark provides is the mobile number and location estimate.
  • Information will only be used for the purpose of helping emergency service providers to identify the location of callers to 111 to respond to their request for assistance or to help locate people for whom there is otherwise considered to be a serious threat to their life or health.
  • Information is retained by Spark, along with records of its delivery to the Emergency Location Information System (ELIS), for three months for monitoring and troubleshooting purposes.

If you'd like to make a privacy complaint, there are a few different ways you can do this. View Spark's privacy complaints process

If you'd like to complain or enquire about the ECLI or DLI system, please visit the Next Generation Critical Communications website for more information. Go to the NGCC website

Complaints about Emergency Service Providers should be made to the relevant organisation.

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