We strongly encourage you to dial the Emergency Call Centre on 111 or on your TTY: 0800 16 16 16 to receive prompt and faster emergency services. However, if a VRS emergency call reaches the Video Interpreter, the VI will do whatever is necessary to quickly handle the call and pass on relevant information to the emergency service. We recommend that you verify your address including the city so that the VRS emergency call can be processed quicker. Please be aware that VRS emergency calls may take longer then dialling 111 directly or 0800 16 16 16.

In an emergency, please contact Emergency Services directly on:

• Deaf Emergency Fax 0800 16 16 10
• Deaf Emergency TTY 0800 16 16 16

No. The Video Relay Service (VRS) is a telephone relay service to provide communication between a person who is Deaf or hearing impaired and uses sign language to communicate with a hearing caller.

Yes, this service is provided as a trial and is funded by the government.

No, provided that the calls are within the allowed hours as seen on the right. However, during the trial we would like to ask you to try and limit your calls to 20 minutes. This will allow other callers the opportunity to access VRS.

Currently only to NZ Residents.

No, you may not use VRS to call directly to another deaf person using sign language. In this situation, you would call the person directly on video, not through VRS. But, you can still call a Deaf person directly if they have downloaded the VRS software.

Yes you can!. Contact the NZ Relay Helpdesk for more information in setting this up for you.

Yes, we have professionally-trained and qualified interpreters in order to provide quality video interpreting services. Our service has a pool of skilled interpreters.

Here's another way to access NZ Relay VRS by simply using a TV, high speed internet access and a D-Link DVC 1000, Grandstream, Vid-Tel, i-2-eye video phone or other videophone equipment. Please contact the NZ Relay Helpdesk for more information in setting this up for you.