Te Hekenga Mai o Tū Ātea
Our Story
Our whakapapa begins in the 1970s when Māori first sought recognition of spectrum as a taonga.
Standing in Space – The Story of Tū Ātea
Tū Ātea stands as a testament to decades of Māori advocacy, vision, and leadership in telecommunications. Our whakapapa begins in the 1970s, when Māori first sought recognition of spectrum as a taonga - a natural resource to be protected and used for the collective benefit of our people.
Through the mahi of pioneers like Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru and Graeme Everton, Māori asserted that access to spectrum was essential for the survival of te reo Māori, cultural connection, and participation in a fast-changing digital world. Their legacy laid the foundation for everything we are today.
From the vision of our tūpuna to the realities of today’s digital world, Tū Ātea continues to build on the aspirations that began over 40 years ago. We are more than a company - we are a movement. Standing tall (tū), connected across space (ātea), carrying the collective strength of our people into the future of technology and communication.
Our Journey
After decades of negotiation with the Crown, the Māori Spectrum Working Group (MSWG) was formed in 2019 to lead discussions on behalf of Māori.
Together, they established the Interim Māori Spectrum Commission (IMSC) in 2020, a structure designed to hold spectrum assets for the benefit of Māori.
In 2023, the kaupapa evolved once again. The IMSC became Tū Ātea Ltd, a permanent entity and public benefit trust. The name Tū Ātea gifted through the kōrero of Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru means “to stand in space.” It symbolises Māori leadership, presence, and innovation within the digital and technological world.
“He ā-atua e iri rā i ara, tūnui, ara tūroa, ara, tū ātea mutunga kore”.
“An impulse from the divine suspended in the path that stands large, that stands long, that stands in space without end”.
— Nā Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru
Key Milestones
1970s - Early Advocacy - Māori leaders began negotiating with the Crown to access spectrum and participate in the telecommunications sector. The goal: to preserve and advance Māori cultural and language objectives, while creating opportunities in a growing industry.
2000 - Te Huarahi Tika Trust - exists to advance Māori participation in the digital economy. Backed by Crown funding, it secured 3G spectrum and, through Hautaki Limited, helped establish 2degrees — continuing to invest in technology and capability for Māori.
2009 - Creation of 2degrees Mobile - A core group of Māori leaders helped establish 2degrees Mobile, New Zealand’s third mobile network operator. This initiative increased competition in the market, leading to significant drops in mobile plan costs and contributing approximately $13 billion to the economy over its first decade.
2019 - Māori Spectrum Working Group - After decades of advocacy, the Māori Spectrum Working Group (MSWG) was formed to lead engagement with the Government on spectrum management and Māori participation in telecommunications. An agreement between the Crown and Māori guarantees 20 percent of key spectrum bands.
2020 - Interim Māori Spectrum Commission - The Government established the Interim Māori Spectrum Commission, tasked with holding and managing spectrum assets on behalf of Māori.
2024 - Tū Ātea Limited is Established - The Interim Māori Spectrum Commission transitioned into Tū Ātea Limited, a permanent, ‘for public benefit’ Trust and registered company under the Companies Act 1993. The core objective is to manage spectrum assets while supporting Māori participation in the telecommunications sector.
2024 - Strategic Acquisition - In January 2024, Tū Ātea acquired the Broadtech Group (Broadtech Limited and JDA Limited), securing a strong industry position and bridging commercial and non-commercial objectives.
2025 - Driving Innovation and Impact - Today, Tū Ātea is leveraging its spectrum and expertise to grow Aotearoa’s digital economy, while creating opportunities for a new wave of Māori high-tech businesses and talent. With the acquisition of Feenix Communications, and then TransWorks under Broadtech, Tū Ātea has expanded its capability to deliver end-to-end connectivity solutions. Alongside a strong commercial portfolio, it continues to invest in workforce development and innovation, underpinned by long-term spectrum rights across key bands.