NorthCom makes the big move

After many months of preparation, today our Northern Communications Centre moved into its new building Piki Ki Te Ao which translates as 'the aspiration of diversity, the coming together of communities'.

Since 1998, NorthCom has worked from 159 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland alongside the Police. Piki Ki Te Ao at 482 Great South Road, Otahuhu is owned by New Zealand Police and has undergone a major upgrade and refurbishment. Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand will continue their close relationship but in much more modern surroundings with state of the art technology.

Northern Communications Centre Manager Peter Stevenson said the move had been a while coming, but the wait was worth it.

"We are all thrilled to be here, and we are very grateful for all the effort that has gone into reaching this point. NorthCom is an operational area where seconds count and a minute can mean the difference between life and death. The critical emergency nature of our work means we require a working environment that reflects that and we have this in Piki Ki Te Ao.”

The geographical area covered by NorthCom comprises the top half of the North Island, extending from the Three Sisters on the Desert Road across to Waihau Bay on the East Cape and north to Cape Reinga. There are 35 people in the NorthCom team, and in the past 12 months, they handled 47,777 (51%) of the 111 calls nationally.

NorthCom dispatcher Leah Denton gave the final transmission from the old premises at Grey Lynn to close down the system there and hand over to Piki Ki Te Ao:

“Tēnā koutou katoa

After 22 years of the Northern Communications Centre working with NZ Police at Great North Road, Grey Lynn, it is time to update and modernise our operations as we relocate to the new Centre at Piki Ki Te Ao in Otahuhu.

Northcom Piki Ki Te Ao, this is Northcom Grey Lynn, e noho rā, you have the channels”.

Leah was also working the final shift in the old Fire Service Control Room when operations commenced in Northcom at Grey Lynn in 1998.

The response from Piki Ki Te Ao:

“Kia ora Northcom Grey Lynn, this is Northcom Piki Ki Te Ao, tēnā rawa atu koe, we have the channels”.