4 February 2026
File Ref: OIAPR-1274023063-46583
Sam Brown
By email:
[FYI request #33416 email] & fyi-request-33414-
[email address]
Tēnā koe Sam,
Requests for information 2026-004 and 2026-005
I refer to your requests for information dated 3 January 2026, which were received by Greater
Wellington Regional Council (Greater Wellington) on 3 January 2026.
This response addresses both requests (our reference, 2026-004 and 2026-005). You requested
the following:
2026-004:
“Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, I request the
following information regarding telecommunications infrastructure owned, operated, or
managed by Wellington Regional Council or any other related entities such as Wellington
Water Limited:
A list of radio communications sites (towers, buildings, shelters) including:
- Site addresses/locations
- Site ownership status (owned/leased)
- Primary purpose (staff communications, SCADA, transport management, etc.)
For each site, an overview of installed equipment types:
- Radio systems (frequency bands, digital/analog)
- Microwave links
- Fiber connections
- Backup power systems
Current maintenance arrangements:
Wellington office
Upper Hutt
Masterton office
0800 496 734
PO Box 11646
PO Box 40847
PO Box 41
www.gw.govt.nz
Manners St, Wel ington
1056 Fergusson Drive
Masterton 5840
[Wellington Regional Council request email]
6142
- Whether maintained in-house or by contractors
- Contract renewal dates (if applicable)
- Any planned upgrades or decommissioning scheduled for the next 24 months.
I do not require detailed technical specifications, individual equipment serial numbers, or
commercially sensitive contract values.”
2026-005:
“Please provide information regarding telecommunications infrastructure for:
- Metlink public transport monitoring systems
- Harbor operations and maritime safety
- Regional parks and facilities
- Current connectivity providers and general network topology”
Greater Wellington’s response follows:
On 9 January 2026 we advised you of the transfer of that element of your request which relates
to Wellington Water Limited.
At Greater Wellington’s request, on 12 January 2026 you provided the following clarification
regarding your original request for information:
What I'm seeking to understand:
I'm researching connectivity infrastructure used by essential public services in the Wellington
region. I'm particularly interested in understanding what connectivity technologies and
providers support critical operational systems.
Specific clarifications:
1. Metlink public transport monitoring:
- What connectivity types are and data routes are used for real-time bus/train tracking and
passenger information systems, for each system and/or unique location (e.g., cellular data,
dedicated fibre, point-to-point wireless)?
- Current service providers for these systems
- Whether there are backup connectivity arrangements if primary systems fail
2. Harbour operations and maritime safety:
- Connectivity used for harbour monitoring, vessel tracking, or maritime safety systems
- Service providers and technology types
- Critical systems that depend on connectivity for safety or operational purposes
3. Regional parks and facilities:
I'm primarily interested in remote or isolated facilities that require connectivity (e.g., ranger
communications, monitoring systems, islands, visitor centres) I am not seeking information
about standard office connectivity in urban locations
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4. General network topology:
High-level overview of how systems connect - for example:
"Bus tracking uses Spark 4G/5G cellular with One NZ backup"
"Harbour systems connect via fibre to central monitoring"
"Remote park facilities use point-to-point wireless links"
I do NOT require technical specifications, IP addressing, equipment details, or information
that would create security risks
What I'm NOT seeking:
- Detailed network diagrams with security-sensitive information
- Corporate IT systems or office connectivity
- Technical specifications of equipment
- Information that would facilitate unauthorised access
Context:
I'm examining how essential services infrastructure depends on telecommunications
connectivity, particularly in scenarios where connectivity provider options may be limited or
changing. Understanding what technologies are used and whether backup options exist helps
assess our infrastructure resilience.
2026-004
Greater Wellington Operations:
For general field operations, Greater Wellington uses multiple radio networks (separate to
Metlink and Harbours).
• A Greater Wellington owned and operated Tier II digital VHF network (Greater Wellington
staff communications)
• A commercial Tier III digital UHF network (staff communications)
• An analog UHF telemetry network (environmental data monitoring)
• A microwave network (HAWAN) for backup networking (business continuity)
Greater Wellington’s microwave network (HAWAN), which was originally setup as part of
Greater Wellington’s business continuity planning, has reached end of life and is expected to
be decommissioned in late 2026 (no dates have been confirmed). This network is currently
only used by Wellington Water for SCADA.
Greater Wellington also makes use of 3rd party providers for UHF voice radio comms (Tier III
and Trilogy networks) and systems such as E-Road for managing staff driver safety.
Operations Radio Repeater Sites:
Greater Wellington owns and operates 3 main radio repeater sites located on Mt Climie, Mt
Wainui and Mount Ōrongorongo.
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Greater Wellington uses licensed/registered radio frequencies for these communications and
information relating to the licenses, including frequencies, locations, transmit power etc can
be found on the RSM website
. https://www.rsm.govt.nz/
Mount Climie:
The Mount Climie site operates on mains power with a battery array and diesel generator
backup.
The site is used for staff communications, environmental monitoring telemetry and also
includes microwave links for the HAWAN.
This site also hosts equipment for Wellington Water Limited (WWL) (details to be provided
separately by WWL).
Greater Wellington Equipment at site includes:
• Digital VHF radio repeater (staff communications)
• Analog UHF radio repeater (environmental data monitoring)
• Several microwave directional links (HAWAN)
Mount Ōrongorongo:
The Mount Ōrongorongo site operates completely off grid using a solar panel and battery array
for power, as well as an EFOY fuel cell generator for backup power.
The site is used for staff communications, environmental monitoring data and includes
microwave links for the HAWAN.
This site also hosts equipment for WWL (details to be provided separately by WWL).
Equipment at site includes:
• Digital VHF radio repeater (staff communications)
• Analog UHF radio repeater (environmental data monitoring)
• Several microwave directional links (HAWAN)
• EFOY fuel cell generator
Mount Wainui:
The Mount Wainui site is a completely off-grid system using solar and battery arrays for power.
The site is only used for staff communications (digital VHF radio) and currently has capacity
for around 10 days with no solar input.
Radio Maintenance:
The repeater sites are part of a 24/7 service and support contract with a local specialist
vendor. The vendor maintains several microwave links to enable remote system management
and alerts. The service and support contract is due for renewal in 2027.
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Currently there are no plans to carry out any site or network upgrades, but the HAWAN
(microwave network) is expected to be decommissioned some time in 2026.
Backup Communications:
At Greater Wellington’s main offices, we have redundant fibre connections to each site and
backup generators to provide for emergency operations. Greater Wellington also have several
portable Starlink kits for maintaining connectivity during emergencies.
Environmental Monitoring Network:
Greater Wellington maintains a large number of remote monitoring devices for environmental
measurements and flood warning. These remote systems typically employ a 4G/5G cellular
connection with an analog UHF radio link backup to provide resilience for sites that are
considered critical (e.g. flood warning).
In some cases, satellite connected devices are used via third parties as well as Starlink
devices for additional network resilience.
Providers include One NZ, Spark, WizWireless, Starlink, Waterwatch.
Greater Wellington operates analog UHF radio links to remote environmental sensors from
our office locations at Cuba St Wellington, our depot at Otaki and our main Masterton Office
(via the Operations repeater sites). Further information on sites can be found on the RSM
website.
At this time there are no plans for any system/network upgrades are changes. Operation and
maintenance of this system is managed in-house with the operations radio repeater sites
managed separately.
Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO):
WREMO utilise the following communications, as per the Primary- Alternate- Contingency-
Emergency (PACE) communications plan:
• Fibre as well as Spark and OneNZ 4G/5G networks (primary)
• Starlink satellite internet (alternative)
• Wellington Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) analog VHF radio network
(contingency)
• Satellite phones using the Iridium network (emergency)
Fibre WREMO manages fibre networks across 7 locations: Wellington City Emergency Operations
Centre (EOC), Porirua City EOC, Kāpiti Coast EOC, Lower Hutt EOC, Upper Hutt EOC,
Wairarapa EOC and the alternate Wellington Region Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC),
Royal Society, Thorndon.
WREMOs fibre provider is Vocus/2degrees, using the Chorus network.
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These networks each have an on-line uninterruptable power supply (UPS) within their server
rack. In an extended power outage, WREMO would utilise other methods of connectivity.
Mobile Networks WREMO staff use OneNZ as the primary cellular network provider and Spark as a secondary
provider depending on location and coverage.
WREMO does not currently have any dedicated 4G/5G wireless internet connections. A
mobile device’s mobile hotspot feature would be used should it be required.
Satellite internet WREMO hold several Starlink units in locations around the Wellington region, covering EOCs,
the ECC, residences of leadership staff (who act as Civil Defence Emergency Management
Group Controllers) and some WREMO vehicles. WREMO also hold several portable units that
can be provided to staff when they are on call, i.e. as the WREMO Duty Officer.
Each Starlink unit is provided with an alternative method of power supply, such as a power
bank, power station, or inverter to be used with a vehicle.
VHF radios The Wellington Region Civil Defence Emergency Management group (CDEM) VHF radio
network comprises of 7 analogue channels across the Emergency Services Band (ESB),
providing coverage across the Wellington region.
GW have radios in locations across the region, in EOCs, the ECC, Community Emergency
Hubs and in WREMO vehicles. GW also have radios held by some partner agencies. Some
radios are fixed installs, whereas others are portable.
More information about radio sites and locations is available on the Radio Spectrum
Management (RSM) website for licensed frequencies in the region.
Satellite phones Each EOC across the region (excluding Porirua City) has a satellite phone assigned. Multiple
satellite phones are held by the regional ECC, and satellite phones have also been assigned to
the regional Group Controller and Regional Manager. WREMO also manage satellite phones
on behalf of South Wairarapa District Council and Carterton District Council.
The satellite phone supplier is Pivotel, and WREMO use the Iridium network.
Maintenance and upgrades All systems are regularly checked, maintained and upgraded as needed by WREMO ICT. For
radio faults and repairs WREMO use a contractor, Global Communications Systems Ltd.
Work is currently in progress to establish a UHF radio network for the Wellington CDEM
Group, using Greater Wellington’s current supplier. Once the UHF network is in place,
WREMO will maintain the VHF network in parallel for a year before decommissioning.
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2026-005
Metlink Communications:
Regarding to your request about Metlink’s public transport monitoring, Greater Wellington
holds details of critical communication lines and services which if released could have the
potential to create security risks.
We are therefore refusing this part of your request under section 7(j) of the Local Government
Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the Act) under grounds to prevent the disclosure or
use of official information for improper gain or improper advantage.
Greater Wellington has considered whether the public interest in the requested information
outweighs Greater Wellington’s need to withhold certain aspects of the requested information.
As a result, we do not consider that the public interest outweighs Greater Wellington’s reason
for withholding some information under the grounds identified above.
There are multiple systems used across bus, train and on-street signs, that use a combination
of the OneNZ, 2degrees, Vocus, AWS, Azure networks.
Most of the hardware deployed doesn’t have “dual SIM” options, and so most are not
“resilient”, but resilience is added elsewhere - Signs will remember the next few hours, even if
they go offline for example.
In the last 5 years, Greater Wellington has had minimal outages relating to connectivity issues.
The additional cost required for resilience for all systems isn’t financially viable.
For maintenance, service and support, Greater Wellington use multiple vendors with contract
renewal dates ranging from 2026 to 2030.
Planned upgrades and decommissioning:
Upgrades + Additional Connectivity: Greater Wellington is likely to have new buses arriving
in the next 24 months. All current systems will be installed on these buses. This will be
additional hardware, but no change to software or connectivity.
Greater Wellington is currently working on a project that would see us require additional SIM
cards to be added to our current pool.
While we have other potential projects noted, we do not have firm plans, so we are unable to
comment if these will be done in the next 24 months.
Decommissioning: While we will be decommissioning some hardware this year, Greater
Wellington has enhanced current solutions to be compatible with 4G/5G due to the 2G/3G
shut off.
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Harbours Communications:
Harbours monitor shipping movements using Vessel Traffic Service software that takes input
from Automatic Identification System (AIS) data coming in via marine VHF Radio and also
position information from radar. This is a standalone system, with redundant hardware, on an
isolated network. Greater Wellington share AIS data with Marlborough District Council (two-
way data flow) and other web-based AIS service providers (Marine Traffic being the better-
known ones). The data is shared via fibre connection.
Communication with shipping is via marine VHF radios, these are all line of sight, and the
majority of traffic does not use repeaters.
Radio traffic and shipping information is all logged on site.
Harbours use various web-based services for receiving weather and sending and receiving
shipping information that uses a fibre connection with a 4G back up.
Greater Wellington has two navigation lights that are on demand during the day, these are
within sight of the station and activated by a UHF radio link, this also returns operation status
and voltage information.
Maintenance and Upgrades:
Marine systems service and maintenance is handled through a mix of in-house and specialist
vendors; Electronic Navigation Ltd are contracted to support the navigation system.
Greater Wellington is currently in the process of updating navigation lights to enable secure
Bluetooth connectivity making for easier monitoring and adjustments.
Parks Operations:
Greater Wellington’s Parks team make use of fibre connections, cellular services and Starlink
for remote office and service connections. The general field operations radio system
mentioned above is used for staff communications in the field. At some locations GW also
use third party providers for security cameras and property alarms.
There are currently no plans for any system upgrades or works, and maintenance and support
is handled either directly by Greater Wellington’s ICT or via several vendors (security).
If you have any concerns with the decision(s) referred to in this letter, you have the right to
request an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Act.
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Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information
requests where appropriate. Our response to your request will be published shortly on Greater
Wellington’s website with your personal information removed.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Julie Knauf
Kaiwhakahaere Matua Ratonga Rangapū| Group Manager Corporate Services Group
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Document Outline
