The police say all communications staff are now being trained in the importance of rural property numbers after a serious truck crash they admit was preventable.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has faulted a police communicator for failing to record key information on the day of the crash, in June 2012.
The authority found two callers who warned cattle were on the road in the night near Mataura in Southland had pinpointed the location with a property identifier, called a RAPID number.
But the man taking the calls did not understand its significance, and did not log the second call.
Officers sent to the area could not find the animals, just an hour before the truck crashed into one of the cows, and driver Chris Campbell was seriously injured, later losing his leg.
Police say they have accepted the authority's findings that the communicator failed to record key information that could have prevented the crash, and they have apologised to Mr Campbell.
They will consider paying compensation, if he asks for it.
