Wellington Community Meshtastic Networks
A network to keep Wellington Connected when all other means fail
When major disasters strike, access to traditional communication networks can be lost or severely limited. Physical damage to fibre networks, disruption to cellular towers, system overload, or restricted service can quickly leave neighbourhoods unable to send or receive essential information. In a region like Wellington—where the risk of earthquakes, storms, and tsunami remains ever-present—this communication vulnerability presents a significant challenge to community safety and well-being.
To help address this gap, Wellington communities and technology enthusiasts are working to connect and strengthen a series of locally operated Meshtastic networks across the region. The issue is not only the risk of losing mainstream networks, but the lack of an accessible alternative. When phone and internet services are disrupted, people need a simple, decentralised, and affordable way to stay informed and stay in touch.
The Wellington Community Meshtastic Network is emerging to fill this role. Using low-power, long-range LoRa radio technology, it offers a resilient communication pathway that can continue functioning even when traditional channels are compromised or inaccessible. The devices are licence-free, inexpensive to operate, and designed to run for extended periods on minimal power—making them practical for everyday use and highly sustainable in a crisis.
With the ability to check on the safety of family, friends, and neighbours, share situational updates, and support local response efforts, the network provides a vital layer of community resilience. By relying on a distributed, community-driven framework rather than centralised infrastructure, Wellington’s Meshtastic network strengthens regional preparedness and ensures that essential communication links remain available when they are needed most.
The Wellington Region Network
Wellington Region Meshtastic Group – Purpose & Activities
We are a community-focused group exploring and supporting how people can stay connected during disasters when traditional communication systems fail.
What We Do
We test and evaluate communication technologies—such as Meshtastic and other tools—to understand how they perform in real-world conditions. Our goal is to identify practical, reliable solutions that communities can use when it matters most.
Our Focus
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Resilient communication: Finding ways to communicate without relying on cellular or internet networks
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Real-world testing: Running experiments and stress tests to understand what actually works
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Ease of use: Ensuring solutions are simple, intuitive, and accessible to everyone
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Community engagement: Working directly with communities to build trust and adoption
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Needs-first approach: Designing solutions based on real community needs, not just technology
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Work in collaboration and exchange knowledge with other community networks
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Provide support and guidance to promote and establish new community mesh networks
How We Work
We bring together people with diverse skills and perspectives to:
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Find, and experiment with, different technologies
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Share knowledge and insights
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Collaborate with local communities across Aotearoa New Zealand
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Continuously refine our approach
Our Goal
To develop and promote communication approaches that help communities stay informed, connected, and resilient in times of crisis—and that can be adopted locally and beyond.
The Wellington Routers
Our high site routers provide a reliable transit backbone throughout the region, ensuring that Wellington's widely varied terrain doesn't prevent messages from making it across the mesh. These are typically sited in locations with a good view over populated areas, with a large battery and a solar panel to ensure that they can run fully independently of traditional infrastructure. They use an nRF52 MCU for power efficiency, a SX1262 LoRa radio to ensure high compatibility with other nodes, and an omnidirectional antenna with modest gain appropriate for the terrain.
Vogelmorn Network
The Vogelmorn Mesh group started in the middle of September 2025 as a Signal group to support the local communications and technology interest of the Vogelmorn DIRT (Disaster Innovation Research and Teaching) group. This Signal group has now expanded to include people from outside Vogelmorn.
The current network in Vogelmorn consists of 13 of 38 people in the previously mentioned Signal group. The intention of this group is to share knowledge and increase the coverage of emergency communication in their hilly suburb.
If you are part of the Vogelmorn community and want to contribute to their mesh's conectedness please join the signal group.
Maungaraki Community Mesh Network
A community driven network aimed at making Maungaraki resilient. It is currently in its early stages and is looking for people in the area that are interested in joining the network. Community Meetings are held in which information and advice is given. People outside Maungaraki that want to use Meshtastic or want to setup a Meshtastic network in their community are encouraged to attend.
Next community meeting is happening on
Date: 27/05/2026
Time: 19:00
Place: Maungaraki Bapist Church 2nd floor
164 Dowse Drive, Maungaraki, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand
If you are in the Maungaraki area and are interested in joining the network, please fill the form
Eastbourne Network
Eastbourne is a community that is vulnerable to many natural events. It has been relying on a VHF radio system to maintain communication with each bay. But due to its age and the lack of maintainance it has become unreliable. So Bruce Spedding of the Eastbourne Community Board is starting a Meshtastic network in Eastbourne.
If you live in Eastbourne and would like to host a node to strengthen this network please fill the following form to get in touch.
The CRISiSLab Network
The CRISiSLab network started in early 2025 as part of our research into Meshtastic LoRa networks. The network shown in the image consists of nodes hosted by volunteers from within CRISiSLab and the public. It covers most of the CBD and nearby suburbs such as Island Bay and Hataitai.
Future research using this network will be focused on modify Meshtastic to act as a backup network for earthquake early warning messages.
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