The customer

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is a government organisation that looks after the natural and historic heritage of New Zealand.

The challenge

DOC's 1500 permanent staff cover the length and breadth of the country looking after threatened species, national parks and reserves, protected forests and inland waters, historic places on conservation land and marine reserves. DOC needs to have effective communication with staff - particularly those in remote places.

"We constantly have staff in the most remote parts of New Zealand on threatened species projects or managing the hut and track network, and it is vital we are able to ensure effective communication with them."

Alan Edmonds, DOC Science, Technology and Information Services Manager

It was necessary to find a system to keep staff staff safe, improve communication and save time and resources over vast distances. Tait was able to fulfill these challenges by customising their products to DOC's requirements.

The solution

The Tait system provides improved safety for staff working in the field, improved communication during rural fi re emergencies and it enables DOC to more efficiently manage its staff. The upgrade will bring the department's entire radio system into line with current needs as well as providing opportunities that new technology offers.

Tait has provided base station equipment for 43 sites, more than 1200 Tait terminals and compact fixed repeaters for radio communications for DOC's VHF network.

Tait has customised Tait portable radios to DOC's needs with tailored firmware and controls. DOC staff can now use the Tait portables to place and receive telephone calls within their VHF network coverage area.

The customising also extends to the network equipment. Tait base stations have been modified - mainly to operate effectively at solar-powered sites. Compact fixed repeaters have been created for DOC, based on mobile radios.

Tait has also provided high frequency communications equipment for DOC's use in especially remote areas like the vast Fiordland National Park and offshore islands.

For more information

Tait Portables

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