Early morning Civil Defence mobile alerts anger sleep-interrupted Kiwis
Wednesday, 4 October 2017
Angry New Zealanders were jolted awake in the early hours of Wednesday morning after what was meant to be a test of an emergency alert system instead went live.
Three emergency alerts from the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) were sent out to people's mobile phones about 1.32am, 1.33am and around 1.49am, accompanied by a loud ring tone and vibrating.
The message read: 'Emergency Alert … This is a test message for the Emergency Mobile Alert system that will be available by the end of 2017. Visit civildefence.govt.nz to find out more. Sent by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management'
The alerts came through when the provider of the service, based in Europe, trialled it during European daytime hours. They had been meant to be restricted to a test environment, however went to Vodafone customers all around New Zealand.
Disgruntled Kiwis, potentially woken from some quality REM sleep, vented while trying to get their heart rates back down to normal.
Dear @NZcivildefence, thanks for testing your mobile emergency alert system at 01:30AM. The whole house is awake now. #muppets pic.twitter.com/tvYMGhTKjj
— Michael Emery (@michael_j_emery) October 3, 2017
MCDEM confirmed that the alert was issued in error and has apologised on its Facebook page.
Sarah Stuart-Black, Director of the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency management says the disruption many New Zealanders experienced from the early morning testing of an early warning alert system was 'completely unacceptable' and she took full responsibility for the error.
'It's so loud and such a different sound.
'It would've given some people a full-on fright.'
Customers in Auckland received three alerts and those in other parts of the country received two, but Stuart-Black stressed the fault was not Vodafone's.
The 'life-changing alert' system was set to launch later this year and would be automatically installed and enabled on new phones.
Older phones might receive the ability to automatically receive alerts through a system upgrade.
The notification system would have ability to provide localised alerts for things like tsunami warnings.
Test messages would be issued once the system was launched but such messages would be issued with adequate warning and at a convenient hour, Stuart-Black said.
What the heck!? 1.33 am and twice my phone shrieked a test alert from NZ Emergency Management. Then again at 1.49. Had to turn phone off.
— Miraz Jordan ✨ (@Miraz) October 3, 2017
Good one. Another alert. I’ve turned emergency alerts off now so I can’t get some bloody sleep. pic.twitter.com/Ge4qy3XmRt
— Liki Finau (@fredliki) October 3, 2017
Anyone else received the test emergency alert from ? It’s working 😴😲@AucklandCDEM #auckland #heartattack pic.twitter.com/xmJ9yDiwp9
— Kamilla (@novazelandia) October 3, 2017
This is awesome! Can’t wait for it. Does this mean the world is ending soon? #civildefenceNZ #emergencyalert pic.twitter.com/1WuGjVjrb2
— Tongan Zaddie (@oMOONCHILD) October 3, 2017
Uhm what? I just got an emergency test alert sent to my phone? Scared the shit out of me. pic.twitter.com/YfszJaUvzC
— Murfy (@michaelmurfy) October 3, 2017
Did anyone else in NZ just get an emergency alert test?! 1:30AM! Gave me a heartattack pic.twitter.com/bDGWwCC6UJ
— Sarah (@Sarah_8128) October 3, 2017
I really dig the idea and importance of this alert system, but FFS testing it THREE times between 1.30-1.50am is not on!! @NZcivildefence pic.twitter.com/elsPTqwyRN
— Kieran Shalley (@kieranshalley) October 3, 2017
Thanks @NZcivildefence for the 1:34am wake up text testing your emergency text alert system! Could it not have waited till 6am? pic.twitter.com/u4J2KNDKIy
— shar.davisNZ (@shar_davisNZ) October 3, 2017
Just switched off the emergency alert notifications after round 2 of Civil Defence's 1am 'tests'. #counterproductive #didntneedsleepanyway pic.twitter.com/Tl9tJPJtZb
— Nick Johnston (@nbwjohnston) October 3, 2017
Thanks for the midnight emergency alert Civil Defense…. Took me awhile to realise we weren't all about to die. pic.twitter.com/UOIsQX5tUK
— Kate Standen (@misskatles) October 3, 2017
@NZcivildefence you had to test the emergency alert 3 times between 1 and 2am? A friendly forewarning message during the day would be nice.
— Carl Ellis (@cde79) October 3, 2017
Three emergency alert tests from @NZcivildefence at 1am. Can you guys please sort your shit out before I just block them all
— Michael Standen (@_MichaelStanden) October 3, 2017