29625 (2026). Cushla Tangaere-Manuel to the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery

29625 (2026). Cushla Tangaere-Manuel to the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery: What mechanisms will exist for iwi and marae to provide ongoing feedback to SafetyNet once it is operational, and how will their views be incorporated into its performance?

Hon Mark Mitchell: SafetyNet has a government mandate from 1 July 2026 to offer the Public Safety Network (PSN) Cellular Services, used by the emergency services since 2023, to the wider public safety sector on a commercial basis. This will include offering those services to central and local government agencies, iwi and marae, not-for-profit organisations, and infrastructure and utility companies. SafetyNet will collaborate with the public safety sector to identify and develop new critical communications solutions to meet operational needs, including working with Māori. SafetyNet has requested a meeting with the Iwi Chairs Forum to introduce the organisation and discuss how it might work with iwi and marae to promote PSN Cellular Services and align with their operational needs, including as the Emergency Management Bill progresses. I am further advised that one of SafetyNet’s early priorities is to develop a customer onboarding strategy, which will involve building relationships across the public safety sector to better understand customer demand and operational needs. As part of this work, SafetyNet is engaging with Te Puni Kōkiri, Tū Ātea, and the Iwi Chairs Forum.