When disaster strikes, emergency crews can’t afford miscommunication. Whether they’re tackling a rural fire, coordinating a multi-agency search, or responding to a city-wide power failure, clarity and reliability in communication are non-negotiable. That’s where Tait radios prove their worth.
Designed to thrive under pressure, built for the rugged conditions of Aotearoa, and trusted by those who put their lives on the line, Tait radios have become the backbone of New Zealand’s Public Safety Network.
This article explores the significance of this nationwide upgrade, unpacks what makes Tait the right choice for the job, and explains what this transformation means for emergency services and the public they protect.
Key Takeaways
- Tait is delivering the digital Land Mobile Radio (LMR) system as part of New Zealand’s Public Safety Network
- The system offers encrypted, reliable, and cross-agency radio communications nationwide
- Tait’s full project ownership supports accountability and delivery consistency
- Emergency services now operate with a future-ready, unified radio network
- The Public Safety Network rollout is active, with full national coverage expected by 2028
What the Public Safety Network Is and Why It Matters
New Zealand’s Public Safety Network is a comprehensive upgrade to the way emergency services communicate. It replaces a patchwork of ageing, disconnected systems with a unified radio platform built for clarity, security, and responsiveness. This is more than just a tech upgrade. It’s a coordinated overhaul of critical infrastructure.
What’s in the Network
The network is anchored by Tait’s encrypted P25 digital LMR technology, designed specifically for mission-critical communication. It enables crystal-clear voice channels, GPS-based location tracking, and short-data messaging, even in remote or disaster-struck regions where mobile networks fail. Unlike mobile phone systems, which are susceptible to congestion and outages during emergencies, this LMR system provides uninterrupted service when it’s needed most.
Cellular roaming and priority access are integrated as supplemental features, but the dedicated radio infrastructure remains the primary layer. The system’s redundancy, spectrum allocation, and hardware resilience make it a communications lifeline in the toughest conditions.
Who Uses It
All major emergency response agencies in the country are joining the network. This includes New Zealand Police, Fire and Emergency NZ, Hato Hone St John, and Wellington Free Ambulance. With a shared communications framework, these agencies can now collaborate more effectively across regions and operations. The result is faster response times, clearer coordination, and more lives saved.
Why Tait Radios Are the Right Fit for This Job
This rollout isn’t theoretical. It’s already underway, and Tait is delivering at every level. With local expertise, manufacturing presence, and decades of public safety experience, Tait is uniquely qualified to handle a project of this scale.
National Capability, Local Delivery
Tait Systems NZ, the company now wholly owned by Tait Communications, is deploying more than 500 radio sites across the country. This infrastructure spans mountain ranges, coastal plains, urban centres, and everything in between. Having manufacturing and engineering teams on the ground gives Tait the responsiveness and contextual awareness needed to navigate New Zealand’s complex terrain and regulatory environment.
The company’s deep roots in Christchurch and national footprint position it to deliver consistently while keeping the operational knowledge close to home.
Proven Performance in Public Safety
Tait’s radios have served police departments, fire brigades, ambulance units, and industrial operations for years. From forestry crews in the central North Island to emergency responders in Fiordland, these radios are known for reliability in places where failure is not an option.
Tait’s track record with regional businesses shows how their DMR radios perform in challenging, real-world environments outside major urban centres.
They are also interoperable across various system types, making them ideal for agencies transitioning from legacy tech to the new network. Tait’s international deployments add to their credibility, with similar large-scale radio networks delivered in Australia, the UK, and the United States.
Clear Ownership and Project Focus
With Kordia stepping back into a subcontractor role, Tait has full control of the network’s design, rollout, and ongoing maintenance. This end-to-end responsibility allows them to streamline decision-making, avoid unnecessary delays, and respond rapidly to on-the-ground challenges. It also strengthens accountability, which is vital in a public safety context where downtime is unacceptable.
Where the Project Stands and What’s Coming
Rollout in Progress
The rollout began in Canterbury and has expanded into other regions throughout 2025. Field testing has confirmed strong performance, with users reporting improved clarity, coverage, and coordination. By mid-2026, key population centres will be live, and the network will continue to extend into harder-to-reach rural and alpine zones.
Each new site is equipped with next-gen Tait radio gear, backed by encrypted data paths and integrated into a centralised network management platform. Real-time diagnostics allow system administrators to monitor performance and preempt outages.
Challenges and How They’re Handled
Nationwide infrastructure projects are never without complexity. Risks include delays in equipment procurement, skilled contractor shortages, and site access issues in remote areas. However, Tait has addressed these challenges through fixed-price contracts, forward procurement planning, and by retaining a stable, trained delivery workforce.
Progress has remained steady, and reports from government oversight bodies have rated the programme as well-managed with moderate risk levels. Tait’s prior experience in managing large-scale rollouts internationally gives them a blueprint to anticipate problems before they escalate.
The Full Picture
Once complete, the Public Safety Network will cover every corner of the country. The full migration, expected by 2028, includes vehicle-mounted installations, portable radios for field use, and comprehensive upgrades to dispatch and control systems. This will connect more than 25,000 devices across more than 450 agencies.
This is more than a radio system. It’s an integrated public safety backbone that enhances decision-making, supports frontline responders, and improves the public’s confidence in emergency response.
What This Means for Emergency Services and Everyone Else
For frontline responders, the advantages are immediate. Communications are clearer, faster, and more resilient under pressure. Whether it’s coordinating a helicopter extraction, managing a wildfire, or handling a major motorway incident, knowing that every message gets through matters.
Agency managers benefit too. A unified system means simpler training, consistent device behaviour, and more effective resource allocation across regions. Procurement is centralised, and upgrades can be implemented uniformly rather than in silos.
For the public, the network brings peace of mind. Families affected by emergencies, businesses relying on safe operations, and communities prone to natural disasters all benefit when emergency services are better connected. Even during national crises, the LMR network ensures communication won’t break down.
While the focus is rightly on emergency agencies, the flow-on benefits reach into transport, utilities, logistics, and community resilience. And with trusted providers already supporting clients in these sectors, the groundwork is already in place to bring these communication gains to a wider group.
Why This Upgrade Changes Everything
Tait is delivering more than radios. They’re building the framework for a more connected, responsive, and resilient emergency network. With full ownership of the rollout, deep sector knowledge, and a commitment to local delivery, Tait is executing one of the most significant public infrastructure upgrades in recent memory.
The Public Safety Network is no longer an ambition. It’s being built, tested, and deployed right now. And its impact will be measured not in tech specs but in safer outcomes, stronger agencies, and a nation better prepared to respond when things go wrong.
