Tait Systems NZ appoints Steve Bush as chief executive

Tait Systems New Zealand has appointed Steve Bush as chief executive. He will take up the role as the company continues work on New Zealand's Public Safety Network land mobile radio programme.

Bush joins the organisation as it advances a nationwide communications network for emergency services, with rollout continuing through 2026 and 2027. The Public Safety Network is intended to give first responders encrypted communications across the country during major incidents, severe weather events, natural disasters and emergencies in remote areas.

The appointment puts an executive with more than two decades of experience in telecommunications, broadcasting and critical communications infrastructure in charge of a programme regarded as one of New Zealand's largest public safety infrastructure investments.

Board Chair Penny Hoogerwerf said Bush was joining at an important stage of the project's delivery.

"Steve has a strong record of leading complex telecommunications and critical communications programmes, including large-scale infrastructure projects. He joins a highly capable team working alongside SafetyNet Critical Communications, emergency service agencies, suppliers and delivery partners.

This programme has established strong foundations and reached an important stage of delivery. I am confident Steve's leadership, industry knowledge and collaborative approach will help us build on the substantial progress already achieved," Hoogerwerf said.

The network is intended to support police, fire and other emergency personnel with communications designed to remain available in high-pressure situations. It is also expected to improve interoperability between agencies involved in public safety responses.

Hoogerwerf said the project would have long-term consequences for frontline services and the wider public.

"The work being undertaken today will deliver benefits for first responders and New Zealanders for decades to come. Steve's experience leading large, technically complex programmes will be invaluable as we continue to deliver this nationally significant capability," Hoogerwerf said.

Industry background

Bush most recently worked on the New South Wales Land Mobile Radio network, a large public safety communications project in Australia. His previous senior roles included positions at Kordia, Huawei Australia, Tata Consultancy Services and Amalgamotion.

His background spans both public and private sector work, including oversight of network planning, delivery and operations on large infrastructure and technology projects. His appointment suggests TSNZ is seeking leadership with direct experience of similar communications systems as the New Zealand programme moves deeper into deployment.

Bush said the role stood out because of the network's purpose and its connection to emergency services.

"This is not simply another network rollout. It is a national public safety capability that will support the people who protect New Zealanders every day.

For first responders, reliable, encrypted communications are fundamental to how they coordinate, make decisions and operate safely in high-pressure environments. The network will strengthen how emergency services communicate, coordinate and operate during critical incidents, helping ensure teams remain connected when communities need them most," Bush said.

Delivery phase

Substantial work has already been completed in planning, design, site acquisition and network deployment. Bush arrives after much of the early-stage programme development has been carried out, with the next challenge focused on execution across multiple regions and stakeholders.

The Public Safety Network relies on coordination between TSNZ, SafetyNet Critical Communications, NIFF, Tait Communications, emergency service agencies, suppliers and other delivery partners. Managing that mix of government bodies, industry groups and operational users will be central to the programme's progress.

Bush said he was inheriting a project with established momentum.

"I'm joining at a time when a great deal of work has already been completed across planning, design, site acquisition and network deployment. We have a strong foundation of capability, experience and commitment across our teams and partners, and my role is to build on that momentum to continue increasing the pace of delivery as we deliver this critical capability for New Zealand's emergency services," Bush said.

Partnership focus

The scale of the programme means TSNZ's leadership will need to balance technical delivery with stakeholder management. Emergency communications projects typically involve demanding operational standards, wide geographic coverage and long service lifecycles, particularly when they are intended for disaster response and frontline use.

Bush said collaboration across the programme's participants would remain essential as the rollout advances.

"Major programmes like this are only successful through partnership. The relationships established across government agencies, industry partners and delivery teams will continue to be central to achieving our shared goals. I look forward to working with those teams as we progress the next stages of the rollout," Bush said.