Whale Watch - Kaikoura, New Zealand

The Customer

This prominent New Zealand eco-tourism operation relies on Tait mobile and portable equipment, and a Tait nationwide network, for effective communications, both on land and at sea. Whale Watch Kaikoura is one of the great New Zealand tourism success stories.

Since its set-up in 1987 by local Ngai Tahu Maori, Whale Watch has grown enormously and has been instrumental in the growth of the area's tourist economy, now acknowledged as an eco-toursim hotspot.

With over 65,000 visitors a year arriving in Kaikoura just to see the magnificent sperm whales, Whale Watch, like Kaikoura itself, has gone from strength to strength.

The Challenge

When it came to finding a mobile communications system that would cover their needs both on land and at sea, Whale Watch opted for Tait portable and mobile radios connected to FleetLink, a Tait nationwide Public Access Mobile Radio (PAMR) network. With competing aircraft-based operators in the area, private calling was important, as was the ability to operate over a large area. With the boats operating many miles off the rugged Kaikoura coastline, the radio system needed to have reliable coverage and be robust enough to survive in a marine environment.

The Solution

With the boats always updating each other on the progress of individual whales and sightings, cost-effective group calling was essential - something not possible with cellphones. The Tait mobiles' excellent data handling also meant that future upgrades were a possibility, including the addition of GPS.

Tait's communication solution fi lled all the above needs, but excellent customer service was just as important to Whale Watch. "The decision to go with the Tait solution was largely influenced by the commitment seen by Keith Wall and the Tait team and the faith he had in his product," says Whale Watch's Thomas Kahu.

"The reduced cost in communications has been great and would be the most noticeable benefit since the installation. There are also other advantages like improved communication coverage, privacy and reliability - all of which have been real benefits received from the system."