Lifeline Upgraded: Emergency Radio Network Enters Digital Age

This transformative upgrade enhances the resilience and reliability of the district’s emergency communications infrastructure.

The upgraded radio network strengthens the districts preparedness for natural disasters and emergencies by improving communication coverage, reducing signal dead zones, and introducing state-of-the-art digital technology. The 18-month upgrade project has equipped all 20 Civil Defence radios—located in community halls, schools, and Civil Defence centres—with faster, clearer, and more secure communication capabilities. To maintain peak performance and reliability, a weekly radio check is conducted every Wednesday, ensuring each unit is fully operational and ready to respond when it matters most.

"This project marks a significant milestone in our commitment to community safety and emergency preparedness," said Nick Galpin, Senior Emergency Management Advisor, Manawatū District Council. "Reliable communication is a key part of any effective emergency response and this upgrade ensures that our teams have the tools they need to connect with communities and support agencies when it matters most."

Key achievements of the project include:

• Resilience upgrades to repeater stations and antennas across strategic high-ground locations in the district.
• Integration of digital radio technology for clearer, more secure communications.
• Expansion of coverage in rural and remote areas with historically poor reception.
• Replacement of older radio units to current digital units allowing for greater service life.

The project was funded by local council investment and was delivered in partnership with Adamson & Holland who have been serving the Manawatū for over 25 years.

Users of the network will not see any visual change to the radio units already in place, but the technology inside has been completely upgraded.

MDC's CDEM team at a telecommunication tours near Apiti.