Wellington’s CentrePort and Māori-owned spectrum and digital infrastructure specialist Tū Ātea have officially launched New Zealand’s first commercial private 5G network, marking a major advancement in productivity, safety, and Māori leadership in infrastructure.
Built at the heart of the port environment, the dedicated private 5G system provides CentrePort with full-site high-performance connectivity.
It replaces critical wireless dependencies, improves operational resilience, and establishes a new standard for national freight and logistics hubs. Key features include:
- Dedicated spectrum and wireless infrastructure designed exclusively for CentrePort operations
- Deployment across port-wide assets including cranes, trucks, sensors, and tablets supporting movement of approximately 4 million tonnes of freight annually
- Wireless architecture optimized for the challenging port environment and engineered to overcome coverage barriers
The project represents a partnership model between Māori-owned infrastructure innovation and national logistics leadership reflecting Tū Ātea’s commitment to actioning Māori spectrum rights and bringing them into commercial deployment.
Antony Royal, CEO of Tū Ātea, stated that this network demonstrates what becomes possible when Māori enterprise partners with industry to build technology for the future.
Anthony Delaney, CEO of CentrePort, commented that the port is a dynamic environment where reliable and fast communication is vital for the safety of the staff and the overall efficiency of the port.
With the deployment now live, CentrePort and Tū Ātea will progress further applications including advanced sensor networks, remote monitoring, and smart logistics all delivered over the dedicated 5G capability.
