What Tait’s Award Win Means for the Industry in New Zealand

What Tait's PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award Actually Recognises

The New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards are judged exclusively by a panel of international judges, and the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year category is considered the pinnacle of the sector. Tait Communications took out the top honour at the 2026 awards, held at Spark Arena in Auckland on 22 May, beating a strong field of finalists from across New Zealand's software, electronics, telecommunications and agritech industries.

The judging criteria weren't sentimental. Revenue growth, sustained innovation, commercial success and strategy, and demonstrated environmental, social and governance standards all counted. Judges specifically highlighted that Tait, despite being a 57-year-old company founded in Christchurch in 1969, continues to innovate and move at speed, an achievement they called uncommon for a business of that age.

What tipped the balance for the judging panel:

• Tait passed the half-billion-dollar revenue mark for the first time in the past year
• Growth came through both organic expansion and acquisition, including RFI Technology Solutions and m-View in Australia, and Wellington-based network operator Vital Ltd
• Tait continues to compete and win business on the world stage, not just within New Zealand
• CEO Dr Yoram Benit accepted the award on behalf of the team, crediting the legacy built by founder Sir Angus Tait

This isn't Tait's first brush with the award either. Sir Angus Tait himself was the very first recipient of the Hi-Tech Company of the Year award back in 2003, which makes this win a genuine full-circle moment for the company he started.

Why This Award Matters to Your Radio Network

Awards season can feel like background noise if you're the one actually relying on the gear. But this one shines a light on what's inside the hardware your team depends on every shift, and it strengthens confidence in four things specifically.

• Ongoing R&D that keeps the platform improving rather than standing still
• Reliability engineered for demanding environments, from remote roads to heavy industry
• Practical innovation that shows up as clearer audio and safer operations, not just marketing copy
• Hardware built to be used hard on real sites, not just photographed for a brochure

Tait's credibility on reliability isn't theoretical either. Tait has taken on full delivery of New Zealand's Public Safety Network, the nationwide radio upgrade supporting police, fire and ambulance services, which is about as demanding an operating environment as exists. Mobile Systems Limited isn't a primary supplier into that specific emergency services network, but we install, service and supply replacement hardware for organisations operating on it, and that hands-on experience with mission-critical Tait equipment feeds directly into how we support every other Tait client we work with.

When your crew trusts their radios to work first time, every time, they stop thinking about the equipment and get on with the job. That's the whole point of choosing a platform with this level of independent validation behind it.

Beyond Radio: One Coordinated Communications Platform

Two-way radio still sits at the core of most fleets and field teams, but what you need from it has grown well past voice alone. It's visibility, safety and flexibility, all in one system.

Working with Tait solutions, Mobile Systems Limited brings radio, cellular, satellite and data together into one coordinated platform. Your drivers, field staff and office team stay in touch on whichever channel makes sense at the time, without anyone losing control of the bigger picture.

In practical terms, that means clearer audio in noisy environments, GPS visibility on people and vehicles, and safety functions that let supervisors respond fast when something goes wrong. In harsh or remote conditions, that combination is often the difference between a bad day and a genuine incident.

Global Technology, Backed by a Local Team Who Answers the Phone

Ever bought gear from overseas, then hit a wall trying to get it serviced? That's not how Mobile Systems works. We design, supply, install and service communication systems built around Tait equipment and other trusted brands, from our own workshop in Mount Maunganui.

Our on-site installation and mobile technician service covers the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Rotorua, Taupō, South Waikato, the Volcanic Plateau and Eastern Waikato, with equipment supply and support available nationwide across New Zealand beyond that footprint.

That means we tune every system to your environment, your budget and your safety requirements, not a generic spec sheet. Global-grade technology is only as good as the local team standing behind it, and that's exactly what this partnership gives you.

What Working With Mobile Systems Actually Looks Like

You're not starting from scratch when you call Mobile Systems. We listen to how your teams actually work, map your coverage and operational needs, then recommend practical options built around proven platforms like Tait. From there we handle supply, installation, programming and after-sales service, so there's one number to call if anything ever needs adjusting.

Curious how a 57-year-old, award-winning company still moves fast enough to keep winning? Our full rundown of Tait's history covers the story from Sir Angus Tait's original 12-person team in 1969 through to today. If you'd rather see the current range, our Tait two-way radios page covers the models we stock and support.