New data has suggested that patients in New Zealand and Australia are ready to embrace the possibility of AI-powered emergency response services.
A new independent research study demonstrates that New Zealanders and Australians want to share their personal data with AI-powered emergency services and see them use advanced technology to improve the delivery of their vital services.
An overwhelming 86 percent of respondents report feeling comfortable sharing their exact location data with emergency services, while a significant 58 percent support the use of AI to detect critical keywords in emergency calls, such as “knife” or “collision” to accelerate emergency response.
The study, conducted by independent market research firm Researchscape, consulted more than 2,500 residents across the two countries in September 2025. It finds clear public sentiment for modernising the emergency call handling services, first introduced in the early 1960s, to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, including the widespread adoption of smartphones and applications that offer more ways to contact emergency services. The research informs emergency services agencies as they seek to close the gap between public expectations and their own capabilities and plan for new and improved emergency call handling and computer aided dispatch deployments.
“The Triple Zero and 111 hotlines have provided a lifeline for the public in times of crisis for more than 60 years, but the need to modernise emergency call handling technology has never been greater,” said Craig Anderson, executive chair, National Emergency Communications Working Group (NECWG).
“These research findings show that communities expect emergency services to keep pace with rapid technology change, as well as clear generational shifts among younger users to provide more ways to contact emergency services in addition to voice calls.”
“In an era where we can track the arrival of rideshare services and use AI to deliver faster insights and improve our decision making, it’s not surprising that the public wants to see their emergency services make use of these innovations to help keep our communities safer,” said Con Balaskas, managing director, Motorola Solutions Australia and New Zealand. “These findings provide valuable insights to help public safety agencies align their technology modernisation strategies with community needs and expectations, fostering stronger collaboration, better emergency management and a pathway to a safer future.”
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