Emergencies in Wellington

Good to Know

• Dial 111 for any Police, Fire, or Ambulance emergency in Wellington and across New Zealand — it's free and works from a mobile even with no credit or SIM.
• For non-urgent police matters (like reporting a past theft), use 105 instead of 111 to keep emergency lines free.
• Wellington's ambulance service is run by Wellington Free Ambulance rather than St John, which covers the rest of the country — the number to reach them is still 111.
• New Zealand's Emergency Mobile Alert system for earthquakes/tsunami/severe weather works automatically on modern phones — you don't need to download or subscribe to anything.
• If you have a hearing or speech difficulty, register for the '111 TXT' service in advance (not during an emergency) so you can text emergency services if needed.
• New Zealand Police generally do not carry firearms, which is a normal and reassuring sight-difference for many visitors.
• Wellington Regional Hospital's Emergency Department is the only true ER/trauma facility in Wellington city itself — for anything serious, this is where you'll be taken or should go.
• For non-life-threatening issues (minor cuts, sprains, colds), an after-hours urgent medical centre is faster and cheaper than the hospital ER — the closest central option is the Wellington Accident and Urgent Medical Centre at 17 Adelaide Road, open 8am–9pm daily.
• Always call 111 for a genuine emergency rather than self-transporting if the situation is critical — Wellington Free Ambulance and Hato Hone St John both operate in the region.
• Non-residents/visitors without reciprocal healthcare agreements will typically be charged for ED treatment in New Zealand, so travel insurance is strongly recommended.
• Free hospital parking is limited to the first 20 minutes; after that, fees apply (capped at a modest daily maximum), so budget a few minutes to find street parking if you're driving a non-emergency case.