The timing of the switch to digital radio in the Southern police district will depend on when the Government decides if it will fund a single radio network encompassing law enforcement, public safety and emergency management agencies.
New Zealand Police have already established and use a digital radio network in Wellington, Auckland and Canterbury.
Extending it to police in the remainder of the country, however, was intended as part of the establishment of a single whole-of-government radio network.
The single network would be built on the back of the police network, but used by all emergency service, public safety and law enforcement agencies.
Southern police district commander Superintendent Bob Burns said the decision for the district to move to digital was "currently on hold", as the "Government has requested more information from the agencies before deciding on the future direction and timing for whole-of-government radio network.".
The Government has been looking at the feasibility of developing a whole-of-government network and the Cabinet has considered a business case for the project, but officials have been asked to develop a more detailed business case.
Supt Burns said it was expected a decision on the network would be made later in the year.
The Government has previously described the current radio communications infrastructure as fragmented, ageing and unco-ordinated and said a whole-of-government radio network was likely to have better communication between emergency services, better security, improved voice clarity, enhanced safety features and improved coverage.
Supt Burns said police would continue to investigate and implement other initiatives to help improve the safety of frontline staff - such as the new personal safety alarms that work on the analogue network at present being trialled - until the digital radio network was established in the South.
Police association region director Detective Sergeant Brett Roberts, of Dunedin, said the association was not too worried about the delay in the switch to digital radio as the present radio network was safe and effective.
However, police were keen to have a secure communication network that could not be overheard by members of the public.
It was possible the digital network might not have as good coverage in the South because of the terrain, but those issues might be resolved with the installation of repeaters and would have to be worked through at the time.
