http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/get-ready/civil-defence-emergency-management-alerts-and-warnings/emergency-mobile-alert/emergency-mobile-alert-frequently-asked-questions-faq/

PaulBags: Hey Vodafone, could we blacklist non numeric numbers? Specifically I want to blacklist the new civil defence emergency system.

You can't. 

Even if you could blacklist non numeroic numbers it wouldn't do any good as this isn't a standard message.

Website:I opt out of getting Emergency Mobile Alerts?

 

In New Zealand, you won’t be able to opt-out of receiving Emergency Mobile Alerts. Phones may show settings that are used in other countries where they can opt out of different levels of alerts, but in New Zealand we will use a special broadcast channel that is permanently on."

I had three messages on my phone this morning, but it didn't wake me up.

I always have my phone on silent overnight. Surprised that they can send an emergency message, and my phone is capable of receiving it but that it cannot override the silent switch on the phone.

 Just bury your phone/head in the sand, will achieve the same thing

@PaulBags

Yup, woke me up too! It's not a normal message and you would, like me, need to turn off emergency alerts.

I'm feeling somewhat left out. No msgs here.

@jaxar - Lucky! Hate interrupted sleep....

MikeHales:

 

@PaulBags

 

Yup, woke me up too! It's not a normal message and you would, like me, need to turn off emergency alerts.

 

Can you really turn off emergency alerts? The Civil Defence FAQ on emergency alerts says:

 

Can I opt out of getting Emergency Mobile Alerts?

 

In New Zealand, you won’t be able to opt-out of receiving Emergency Mobile Alerts. Phones may show settings that are used in other countries where they can opt out of different levels of alerts, but in New Zealand we will use a special broadcast channel that is permanently on.

 

So does this mean that the people that have been saying that they've turned emergency alerts off haven't really done so?

PaulBags: It /seems/ in my case to be tied to samsungs stock messenger, which I completely hobbled after this. Would need another test to know if it worked though.

It won't - it is a part of Android as a whole. It'll just display a notification like in my post instead of going to a notification center. No point being angry over this sort of thing as it is there for your protection in a way. If you don't like it then you'll need to go to a phone without emergency broadcast support.

I honestly think you're getting worked up over something very little.

1) Yes it woke me up too - they apologized, I've moved on.. Mistakes happen.
2) It is designed to alert you and be audible in most environments. If you had it play something soothing instead of alerting then what is the point of an emergency broadcast system in the first place?

If last night there was impending doom heading your way then at-least you were awake to take action but I can safely assume that they wouldn't let a mistake like last night happen again so the next one should be either an emergency or a test you know about. It is a system in use in many countries worldwide and they have to make sure that it works and has the same affect on everyone.

People need to get over themselves. You have kids, you get woken up. A wrong number is rung, you get work up. Some body misconfigures a test system, you get woken up. Mistakes happen.

It was one night and I would be amazed if it happened again. On the scale of bad things this rates about a zero.

As for opting out. I don't believe you should - its for the community good. Anyway like not wearing a bike helmet you can choose not to turn your phone one at night.

Geeze what a lot of brewha-ha about nothing.

Just have this number on speed dial: 0800 Firth

When you get an emergency alert if you feel traumatised, call them and ask for emergency delivery of a concrete pill.

Disclaimer: Not Firth's actual number and there is no such thing as a concrete pill.