“If you build it, we will come”
Transmission Gully - Source NZTA
Emergency responders rely on dependable communication to protect lives and coordinate resources in the moments that matter most.
As part of the government’s new $1.4 billion Public Safety Network, Tait Systems New Zealand is building a new digital Land Mobile Radio (LMR) network to ensure Fire and Emergency New Zealand, New Zealand Police, Hato Hone St John, and Wellington Free Ambulance have secure and reliable communication, where and when they need it.
One critical challenge in building the LMR network is extending radio coverage across new infrastructure for all emergency services, particularly major roads like Wellington’s Transmission Gully, which opened in 2022 after being almost 100 years in the planning, and now carries more than 23,500 vehicles a day.
“Because Transmission Gully is a vital and fast route for first responders travelling to or from Wellington, and where emergencies can occur, secure and reliable radio coverage is essential,” says Senior Sergeant Kate Saxton of NZ Police.
Smarter coverage, fewer sites
Across New Zealand, the LMR network will operate through approximately 500 transmission sites, including one dedicated site strategically placed along Transmission Gully. Where mobile networks require four sites to cover the 27km motorway, the LMR network needs only one, thanks to its use of lower-frequency signals that travel further than the higher frequencies used by mobile providers.
Engineering access in remote locations
Providing coverage in motorway environments comes with unique logistical demands. As it is not safe to access sites directly from the motorway, the Transmission Gully site location requires an access track that stretches nearly four kilometres, making it one of the longest in the network.
“In winter, the track’s condition and narrow width means we can only use small all-terrain vehicles not designed for towing large loads. Since towing half a tonne of gear isn’t an option, flying in equipment by helicopter is on the table,” says Paul Hallowes, Tait Systems’ General Manager of Network Delivery. “We also need to ensure our network is not affected by noise from the high-voltage transmission network, after which the motorway is named.”
Connected communities, trusted responders
Reliable communications empower emergency services to respond swiftly and communicate clearly, especially along new roads that are heavily used by the public and first responders.
As Senior Sergeant Saxton says, “When our responders can act efficiently and communicate seamlessly, it shows communities that they’re working tirelessly to keep them safe. That builds trust, unity, and cooperation between emergency services and the public.”
The Public Safety Network will ensure emergency services across New Zealand are able to respond to emergencies and care for communities. It is being delivered by Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC) on behalf of NZ Police, Fire and Emergency NZ, Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance.