As New Zealand becomes increasingly dependent on digital communications, researchers are asking a simple but critical question: if disaster strikes, will people still be able to access the information they need to stay safe?
University of Auckland computer scientist Dr Ulrich Speidel is leading an international research effort examining the resilience of New Zealand’s internet infrastructure during emergencies, focusing not just on whether networks remain operational, but whether vital public information can still reach communities when it matters most.
The research comes as cyber security experts continue to warn that state-sponsored hackers are increasingly targeting critical infrastructure around the world, often by compromising network equipment such as internet routers before launching wider attacks.
For New Zealand, the stakes are high.
The country’s digital backbone relies on a relatively small number of critical systems working together. These include international submarine fibre-optic cables linking New Zealand to the rest of the world, wholesale telecommunications providers, data centres, the administration of the nation’s .nz internet domain, and the networks that support government agencies and emergency services.
Should one or more of these systems fail during a natural disaster or coordinated cyber attack, the consequences could extend well beyond internet outages. Access to emergency warnings, government information, banking services, healthcare systems and communications between first responders could all be affected.
The issue has gained renewed attention following the magnitude 6.8 earthquake near Te Anau earlier this year, which prompted tsunami alerts and highlighted the importance of fast, reliable communications during rapidly evolving emergencies. Experts noted that resilient communications are as critical as emergency response itself, ensuring warnings reach the public without delay.
Among the systems designed to improve resilience is SafetyNet, New Zealand’s dedicated public safety communications platform. Operated independently as a Crown entity, the network provides emergency-grade cellular roaming, priority access and location services for almost 28,000 frontline responders, including Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and other emergency agencies.
Other organisations, including government communications provider Kordia, also play a key role in maintaining secure broadcast, cybersecurity and government connectivity across the country.
However, researchers say resilience is about far more than keeping networks online.
The growing focus is on whether information remains accessible under pressure, whether backup systems function as intended, and whether digital infrastructure can withstand simultaneous physical and cyber threats.
Dr Speidel’s work builds on years of international research into internet performance, resilience and communications infrastructure, including studies of vulnerable satellite and long-distance network links. His latest research expands that focus to understand how entire digital ecosystems perform under crisis conditions and whether ordinary New Zealanders can still obtain trusted information during emergencies.
The research also reflects a broader shift in national security thinking.
Climate-related disasters, earthquakes, cyber warfare and increasingly sophisticated digital attacks are forcing governments worldwide to treat internet infrastructure with the same importance traditionally reserved for electricity, transport and water supplies.
For Māori communities, rural regions and isolated settlements, resilient communications are particularly significant. During severe weather events and natural disasters, digital connectivity often becomes the primary means of accessing emergency information, coordinating community responses and maintaining contact with whānau.
As New Zealand continues investing in critical infrastructure, researchers hope the findings will help policymakers identify vulnerabilities before they are exposed during a real-world emergency.
The question is no longer whether New Zealand will face another major disruption.
It is whether the country’s digital lifelines will be ready when it does.
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