The emergency 111 phone system in Southland was out of action following Tuesday's earthquake in Christchurch.
The 6.3-magnitude quake hit the central Christchurch at 12.51pm.
Anyone needing urgent assistance from police needed to phone their local police station directly, using the number in the blue pages at the front of the Southland phone book.
Anyone needing an ambulance in Southland was advised to phone 03 211 3044.
And anyone needing assistance from the Fire Service was told to phone 03 214 3779.
