How NZ 24/7 alarm monitoring works, what it costs, and how a Comsys-installed alarm connects to a third-party monitoring station. Comsys does not run a monitoring centre.
Up front: Comsys installs and maintains alarm hardware. We do not run a 24/7 monitoring centre or sell ongoing monitoring contracts. This guide explains how monitoring works in NZ so you can choose a third-party provider that fits your site — we’ll set up the comms path either way.
An alarm system on its own is local: when triggered, it sirens, strobes, and (on modern panels) sends a push notification to your phone. Whether anyone responds depends on you, your neighbours, or whoever is on the other end of the notification. Monitored alarm means the panel additionally reports each event to a 24/7 control room run by a specialist provider. The control room verifies the event (often by phoning you), and if it’s genuine, dispatches a guard or notifies police.
| Service tier | Typical NZ monthly fee | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Self-monitoring (no third-party) | $0 | Push notifications to your phone via the panel app. You decide what to do. |
| Basic third-party monitoring (residential) | $25–$40 | 24/7 monitoring of alarm events, phone verification with you, optional police dispatch. |
| Standard commercial monitoring | $45–$85 | As above plus video verification (where CCTV is integrated), priority response, documented response SLA. |
| Monitoring + guard response (commercial) | $80–$200+ | Guard dispatched to site on alarm activation. Used by retail, hospitality, and high-value sites. |
| High-security (banks, jewellery, regulated) | From $200+ | Hardened comms paths, multiple verification, fast guard response, audited SLA. |
NZ providers include ADT (now part of Allied Security), Stanley Security, Chubb Fire & Security, ARMOURGUARD, FIRST Security, Onyx, and several regional specialists. We’re happy to recommend providers based on what your insurer expects and your site’s actual response needs.
The monitoring fee covers the control-room service. The hardware costs (panel, sensors, sirens, comms module) are paid once at install time and shouldn’t be bundled into the ongoing fee. If a provider quotes “free hardware with a 5-year monitoring contract,” the hardware is paid for in the monthly fee, often at multiples of its actual price — you’ll usually pay $4,000–$8,000 over the life of the contract for hardware that retails at $1,500.
Self-monitoring is fine for many residential and small-commercial sites — modern panels (Paradox, Ajax, Bosch, Inner Range) all push instant notifications to your phone with full event detail. Third-party monitoring is worth the ongoing cost when:
Modern alarm panels (Paradox, Ajax, Inner Range, Bosch, DSC) have built-in IP and 4G comms modules. We program the panel to report events to the third-party monitoring station’s receiver, set up the account hand-off (account number, contacts, response procedure), test the link end-to-end, and document everything in the commissioning pack. Once that’s done, the monitoring contract is a direct relationship between you and the provider; we’re not in the middle.
Alarm system installation · CCTV cost guide · security audit checklist
Indicative supplied-and-installed price for a Comsys CCTV system. Move the inputs to match your site — the calculator updates live.
This calculator is a guide only. Final pricing depends on the site visit — specific camera models, mounting access, cable routing, and any access control or alarm integration can move the number up or down. We always quote in writing after a free on-site assessment, with brand and model itemised so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.
