One NZ changes name to Twos NZ this Conservation Week

One New Zealand has changed its name to Twos NZ this Conservation Week, run by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

The temporary rebrand across One NZ’s stores, offices, digital platforms and network banner is intended to highlight its partnership with DOC and the launch of the Connected Conservation programme.

The pilot scheme involves the installation of smart sensors in around 50 remote DOC toilets, huts and wastewater systems to revolutionise how New Zealand protects its most precious places.

Serious business

The playful name change references what happens in those remote DOC loos – but the technology behind it is serious business, says One NZ.

Delivered through the One NZ satellite network alongside other connectivity approaches, the sensors provide real-time data on wastewater levels, facility use, animal interactions with traps and pest monitoring across some of the country’s most remote tracks.

For DOC – who manages around 2,000 toilets nationwide, many in locations with no traditional cell coverage – this means rangers can remotely monitor facilities, better plan maintenance and identify issues early. More importantly, it frees up critical time and resources for frontline conservation work.

Work smarter, reduce impact, protect nature

One NZ brand lead Jane King says: “This is a really exciting step forward in how we’re working alongside DOC as one of their National Conservation Partners – bringing innovation and industry-leading technology right to the frontline of conservation in a practical, on-the-ground way.

“For Conservation Week, we wanted to get people thinking a bit differently about nature – including the parts we usually overlook or don’t talk about. Remote DOC toilets might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but they’re essential infrastructure, and looking after them properly plays a real role in protecting these environments.

“Our name change to Twos NZ is a light-hearted way to draw attention to that. It might start with something people would normally dismiss, but it opens the door to a much bigger story about how technology can help DOC work smarter, reduce impact and protect nature in ways we’re only just beginning to explore,” King adds.

A new approach

The Connected Conservation programme represents a new approach for DOC, shifting from fixed maintenance schedules to a responsive, needs-based model. Beyond toilets, the pilot will also trial smart traps and trail cameras to remotely control and monitor pests in areas where some of New Zealand’s most precious species live.

The main efficiencies would come from reducing the need for routine manual inspections, helicopter flights and vehicle travel, and enabling more targeted deployment of DOC staff. On some of DOC’s busiest tracks, this translates to more than $ 1 million in savings over a six‑year period, together with around 30 tonnes of avoided CO₂ emissions. Less time spent checking if things need fixing, emptying or resetting means more time spent doing the critical conservation mahi DOC is known for. 

Combine network with smart tech

Kieran Byrne, chief technology officer at One NZ says bringing innovation and industry-leading technology to the frontline of conservation is exactly what they want to be doing with this partnership.

“By combining our network with smart sensor technology, we’re opening up entirely new ways of working in some of the country’s most remote environments. With One NZ Satellite we have extended coverage into the 40% of New Zealand with no traditional signal – that’s what makes programmes like this possible.

“Together, we’re supporting smarter, tech-enabled conservation, while also helping build a stronger connection between people and the natural environment. It’s connectivity with purpose, and it’s just the beginning of how our network can be used to support DOC’s important work across the motu.”

The first sensors of the pilot programme were installed early April, with rollout focused on high-use and logistically complex sites across Mt Aspiring, Fiordland and Tongariro National Parks.

One NZ will return to its original name after Conservation Week (April 20-26), but the technology – and the partnership – is here to stay.

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