111

The telephone number for emergency services in New Zealand and Nauru.

Proper noun

  1. The telephone number for emergency services in New Zealand and Nauru.
    • When you call 111 in New Zealand, the Spark operator usually answers the phone with "111 Emergency. Do you require fire, ambulance, or police?"
  2. The telephone number for ambulance services in Papua New Guinea.

Origin

A variant of the British 999, originally selected as an appropriate number for rotary-dial telephones and adapted in New Zealand because the formatting on its pulse-dial system made 1 equivalent to 9 as processed by its British-made telecommunications equipment.

Forms

1-1-1

Synonyms

111 Emergency Emergency 111