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
The Wellington regional mesh is a medium sized mesh on the SHORT_FAST preset covering several hundred km² of mixed urban, suburban and rural areas across the lower North Island of New Zealand, and part of the top of the South Island. The population is spread throughout complex terrain that can make providing good coverage difficult in some areas.
From its early beginnings in February 2024, it has evolved into a contiguous network of over 250 radios with a strong backbone of relay sites, addressing a number of challenges along the way. Today, it's regularly used across the region for a variety of purpose: text messaging, weather stations for the local hang-gliding club, vehicle tracking, backup communications, and more.
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 resiliient. 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.
Next community meeting is happening on
Date: Wednesday 18th February 2026
Time: 19:30
Place: Maungaraki Baptist Church
164 Dowse Drive
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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Join an Existing Network
How to Join the network
To get connected to the network just follow these three steps
Obtain a device
The Meshtatic Website contains a list of all supported devices. We recommend the SenseCap T1000-E due to its convenient size and energy efficiency.
Install the app and pair the device
Install either the android or IOS Meshtastic application. Update the device's firmware following this guide or instructions given by the company.
Switch to the ShortFast Channel
Then using the app switch to the Short fast channel.
What if you want to create a separate network
Please make sure your device roles adhere to the following guidelines to save bandwidth.
Mobile devices
Please set mobile devices as Client Mute. This reduces the bandwidth taken up by the unnecessary repeating of message.
Static devices at home
These can be left as Clients. However if you have multiple Client Mute devices, then your stationary node can be set to Client Base.
Repeaters & Routers
Devices should not be set as Repeaters or Routers during normal operation as if placed without consideration, they may saturate the networks bandwidth leading to lost messages.
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