Connecting Aotea: Supporting Community-led Connectivity on Great Barrier Island

Further out in the Hauraki Gulf, on Aotea Great Barrier Island, Tū Ātea’s Kāhu Compact Rapid Deployable (CRD) unit continues to provide reliable broadband connectivity to Motairehe Marae, supporting both day-to-day communication and locally led innovation.

Aotea presents a uniquely challenging environment for digital infrastructure. The island has no mains electricity supply, with homes and community facilities operating entirely off-grid using solar power, batteries and backup generation. Connectivity is also limited and costly, particularly for rural communities in the north of the island.

The marae sits within an off-grid community that is pioneering innovative energy solutions. Aotea Energy, a locally based kaupapa Māori organisation, is developing microgrid systems using Māori-designed solar and battery technology, with the aim of enabling energy to be shared across households and community facilities.

Kāhu was designed specifically for environments like this. Compact, solar-powered and rapidly deployable, it provides private wireless connectivity in locations where traditional telecommunications infrastructure is impractical or unavailable. At Motairehe Marae, Kāhu was initially deployed to support the microgrid system, providing the secure and reliable telemetry connectivity needed to monitor and share performance data as the locally developed energy network is established. The unit’s excess capacity was then used to extend broadband coverage across the marae and surrounding papakāinga, supporting communication, access to digital services and wider community needs—all without relying on the national electricity grid or public mobile network.

Together, these systems show how connectivity and energy can work hand in hand to support resilient, self-sufficient communities. Reliable broadband enables real-time monitoring, coordination and communication, while locally developed energy solutions can support infrastructure to operate independently in a remote location.

This deployment reflects Tū Ātea’s broader kaupapa of using Māori-led technology and infrastructure to support communities on their own terms. Rather than imposing one-size-fits-all solutions, our CRD is designed to respond to place, people and aspiration, working in alignment with tikanga and local priorities.

This mahi demonstrates how Māori-led innovation is helping reshape the digital landscape across Aotearoa. On Aotea, it means connectivity that supports everyday life, strengthens local capability and contributes to a future where remote communities are connected, resilient and in control.