One NZ is all set for Fieldays 2025
This article was prepared by One NZ and is being published by the New Zealand Herald as advertorial.
Visit to find out more about One NZ Satellite and a chance to win.
One New Zealand is one of the leading telecoms companies in Aotearoa and once again a proud partner of Fieldays 2025. We are stoked to be a part of the event again this year and will be showing up bigger and better than ever so make sure to pay us a visit if you're heading to Mystery Creek for Fieldays on the 11th – 14th June 2025.
What will be of keen interest to many attendees, is our recent launch of our game-changing One NZ Satellite service in partnership with Space X. This enables customers with an eligible One NZ phone & plan who are out of traditional cell-tower coverage to TXT from anywhere in New Zealand, with a line of sight to the sky.* You can find out much more about this service by visiting our stand in the Main Pavilion at PE50 and if you're there in the morning there'll be free barista coffee too. Or if you won't make it to Fieldays this year, just pop in to your nearest One NZ store to chat to one of our friendly team. There's also lots more info online at one.nz/satellite.
In addition to our main stand on site, there is also the Fieldays Village Green backed by One NZ where you can put your feet up, play some games with the fam or have a go at winning a prize on the One Big Dig game in collaboration with Stoney Creek. And obviously we've not forgotten about the One NZ Warriors. Make sure to visit both the sites to be in with a chance to win a One NZ Warriors experience to see them play.
And finally, we'll also be running a few informative Tent Talks across the Wednesday & Thursday so make sure to check out the Tent Talks schedule for these.
One New Zealand, let's get connected.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Widespread internet outages around lower North Island
Photo: Downdetector/supplied Widespread internet outages are being felt around the North Island, which telcos are blaming on a Chorus fault. "We can confirm that there is a Chorus fault impacting broadband services across all telecommunications providers in the Wellington region," internet provider Spark told RNZ in a statement. "Spark apologises for the inconvenience this is causing customers. We are working with Chorus to ensure this issue is resolved as quickly as possible." Earlier, Voyager said it had identified an issue affecting "Chorus Wellington UFB (ultrafast broadband) handover". "This handover services Wellington, Kapiti, Hutt Valley, Palmerston North and through to Napier." Voyager said Chorus had identified the source of the issue and was working on a fix. Around 90 percent of connections were believed to be affected. "We are working with Chorus on a resolution." Downdetector showed a large spike in outages at Spark, One NZ, Skinny, and 2Degrees among others. Chorus, Spark, and One NZ earlier said they were looking into the problems. There were numerous reports on social media of internet outages with businesses in central Wellington left with no internet connections. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Spinoff
3 days ago
- The Spinoff
The end of ‘off the grid': How satellite texting works and who it's for
Satellite texting, explained. Late last year, One NZ became the first company globally to launch a nationwide Satellite TXT service powered by Starlink. While anyone can hypothetically use this new tech, its potential is perhaps largest for the 40% of the New Zealand landmass that does not have mobile coverage. New Zealand's rugged terrain and large swathes of sparsely populated land make it difficult to run physical infrastructure to many parts of the country. One NZ is using Starlink satellites equipped with Direct to Cell technology to open up a whole world of possibilities for cellular coverage here. This technology already has a powerful track record. During Cyclone Gabrielle, Starlink satellites were able to provide crucial connectivity in emergency scenarios. As One NZ rolls out Direct to Cell technology to customers, people who live, work and travel in remote areas could stand to benefit. So what's the latest on this new service? And how does it even work? I'm hearing a lot about satellite texting lately. What's that all about? Satellite texting is the latest development in how we connect to each other in Aotearoa. Unlike traditional mobile texting which uses cell towers situated on the ground, satellite texting uses 'cell towers in the sky' to provide mobile coverage across Aotearoa, including to the around 40% of NZ's landmass that is not covered by traditional mobile networks – plus approximately 20 kilometres out to sea. So we've literally glued cell towers to satellites? Well not literally, no. It's a little bit more than just a cut-and-paste job, and they definitely look a lot different from the regular cell towers you're thinking of. But for the purposes of visualising how this all works, it's useful to think of these satellites as cell towers floating in the sky. Got it. But why? What's wrong with good old cell towers on the ground? Nothing at all! Cell towers on the ground are the backbone of connectivity in Aotearoa, providing 60% geographical coverage. The biggest advantage of satellite cell towers, however, is their ability to address 'dead zones' – areas that don't get cell coverage, either because they're too far from the nearest cell tower or because something in the environment, maybe a huge mountain, is obstructing transmission. Currently, around 40% of New Zealand's geography remains untouched by traditional mobile coverage with countries like Australia (60%) and Canada (70%) also in similar situations. Why is it so hard to get cell coverage across the whole country? Unfortunately, building cell towers across the entire country is a pretty physically prohibitive task. Much of Aotearoa is characterised by rugged and mountainous terrain which makes building functional infrastructure difficult or impossible. Plus, cell towers are expensive to build and maintain. Most of us already live in cities and towns with good mobile coverage, so there's little incentive for networks to spend money expanding further across our sparsely populated land. If most of us are already living in areas with decent cell coverage, what's the point of addressing these 'dead zones'? It's nice going off the grid sometimes. If you're looking to escape from dreaded work calls or Instagram's algorithmic vortex, then going off the grid can be a lovely change of pace. But when your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere or you get lost during a hike, being off the grid can be stressful, dangerous, and sometimes even a matter of life or death. Satellite communication is set to be a game changer for outdoor safety. For example, if a group of skiers are running behind schedule, they can simply send their loved ones a quick text to let them know they're on their way, preventing an unnecessary call out for search and rescue. Fishers, divers, boaties, anyone out on the water are included as well, with offshore coverage extending up to 12 nautical miles. So do trampers no longer need to carry emergency communication devices? Satellite texting doesn't replace emergency devices like personal locator beacons (PLBs) or satellite phones. It does, however, give outdoor enthusiasts an accessible and affordable layer of protection to rely on if things go wrong. Hmm, I'm not really an outdoor person though. Are there any other benefits to this tech? Absolutely. It will add a layer of resilience to the communication network we all use. If the ground based cell network was hit by a cyclone and lost power, let's say, customers could continue to text via satellite. It also benefits drivers who, in the event of a breakdown or accident on remote roads, will have a reliable way to text for help wherever they may be. For businesses that rely on transporting goods and services nationwide, like logistics or waste management companies whose drivers often spend long hours on the road, having the ability to get in touch with customers and their headquarters also means an extra layer of convenience, safety and peace of mind. Farmers and other rural workers are set to reap the benefits too. Is there anywhere this won't work? As long as you have a direct line of sight to the sky, satellite texting should work wherever you are in Aotearoa. Unfortunately, that means cavers are probably out of luck. OK texting is cool, but what about calls and data? There's no set date for this roll out, but the plan is to offer calls and data eventually. The technology is still new but should improve as time goes on. So how does this technology work exactly? Basically, SpaceX has launched hundreds of Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capability into space. These satellites circle the globe at a low-earth orbit, providing coverage over a much larger geography from above. They move in convoys so that when one satellite moves out of range, another one soon follows. That means there may be some delays as satellites move in and out of sight, but their continuous orbit means that shouldn't be more than a few minutes at a time. So how long can we expect texts to take? Currently, most texts should be delivered within a minute, although in some cases it may take longer. However, as more and more satellites are deployed, delay times are expected to steadily decrease. What about weather? Will rain, snow or wind affect this service? Other than extreme weather events, satellite texting is expected to work in whatever climate you're in as long as you have a clear line of sight to the sky. I'm keen. What do I need to do? If you're a One NZ customer with an eligible phone and plan, you don't have to do a thing. Satellite texting is included in business and consumer pay monthly plans, as well as on Prepay for a limited time, at no extra cost. Your phone will automatically start delivering texts via satellite if it detects you're outside of traditional mobile coverage and you have a line of sight to the sky. You'll know you're connected to the satellite network when the banner on the top left of your phone screen says 'One NZ SpaceX'.
Techday NZ
30-05-2025
- Techday NZ
Farmlands FLEX to deliver solar microgrids for rural sector
Farmlands has announced a partnership with Blackcurrent to launch Farmlands FLEX, a solar and technology joint venture aimed at reshaping energy sourcing and management in New Zealand's rural sector. Farmlands FLEX goes beyond solar panel installations by providing intelligent microgrid systems that are custom-built and managed to serve the specific requirements of working farms and orchards. The initiative seeks to supply farmers with greater energy independence, aiming to reduce power bills, maintain essential operations during outages, and potentially generate an additional income stream. Farmlands Chief Executive Officer Tanya Houghton said, "Rising energy costs are a huge concern for our customers. Finding solutions for on-farm energy needs have been a part of Farmlands' strategy for a long time." To support the profitability and productivity of farmers and growers, Farmlands offers five-year electricity pricing certainty through its partnership with electricity provider Meridian. In addition, Farmlands' fuel joint venture, Fern Energy, is now the country's largest rural bulk fuel provider after three years of operation. With Farmlands FLEX set to become a significant element of its wider service offering, Farmlands is positioning the new system as a response to ongoing industry challenges regarding energy reliability and affordability. Houghton stated, "The on-farm applications for Farmlands FLEX are wide-reaching - the 5am dairy shed power surge, keeping irrigation running during blackouts and protecting frost fans when electricity isn't available or there's an outage. Farmlands FLEX address real farm challenges." The new solution will be formally launched at National Fieldays, but Farmlands and Blackcurrent have indicated that information and consultation opportunities are available now for interested farmers and growers. Among the immediate benefits highlighted for Farmlands FLEX are up to 40 percent reductions in electricity costs, operational continuity during power outages, and the conversion of power expenses into a tangible on-farm asset. There is also scope for customers to generate new income through the sale of surplus energy to the power grid. The company cited examples where farmers have targeted electricity savings in the thousands of dollars per month, and one recent estimate indicated an annual savings of approximately NZD $55,000 for a single customer. Houghton encouraged farmers to begin their own assessments. "No need to wait for Fieldays, grab your power bill and call us to start talking about the options for your farm or orchard." Follow us on: Share on:
