END OF THE YEAR 2025 - THANK YOU FROM ECONODE TEAM

 

Dear Econode Community,

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2025 marked the tenth anniversary of Econode. From a solar-powered shed on Great Barrier Island, we have achieved international recognition for our work and passion. 

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Naku te rourou nau te rourou ka ora ai te iwi

With your basket and my basket, the people will thrive.

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2025 began with a new friendship that sparked fresh ideas and ultimately led to an innovative project. While searching for a 3D filament supplier for our modelling experiment, we discovered KiwiFil (https://www.kiwifil.shop/) in Tokorua, a commercial venture founded by legendary US racers Eva Hakansson and Bill Dubé. The husband and wife duo held the world speed record for electric motorcycles for over a decade with KillaJoule (pictured with us). They later built a 1,000-horsepower motorcycle called Green Envy to challenge the motorcycle world speed record. Eva describes her racing as “eco-activism in disguise”, using the unconventional platform of high-speed racing to challenge perceptions and promote sustainable technology (https://greenenvyracing.com/about/). Econode and Kiwifil are developing an automated plastics recycling system with custom hardware and software, all manufactured in New Zealand. If anyone has 3D print waste please send to the team at KiwiFil.

After years of testing the Econode wireless race timing system at New Zealand land-speed events, everything came together in a truly exciting breakthrough.  In November, we successfully deployed Econode wireless timing equipment for the very first time at an international land-speed event at the Uyuni Salt Lake in Bolivia. The natural environment in Uyuni was extremely harsh and unforgiving for electronic and radio equipment, yet our system performed flawlessly. Reg Cook and the team at Cook Motor Racing (CMR) were operating under Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) homologation as they pursued the first FIA land-speed record ever set by a New Zealander (https://cmrchallenges.co.nz/news/brilliant-221/). We are proud to say that the Econode wireless timing system is now FIA approved.

As part of our ongoing conservation efforts, our custom-designed mesh network solution for the Falkland Islands trapping project has continued to operate reliably and consistently, after a full year in the field. This year, Parks Victoria and several private sanctuaries in Australia began trials of our SmartTrap monitoring system, marking an exciting step into new regions. Meanwhile, our long-term New Zealand–based trapping projects are continuing despite some funding challenges. We are also in discussions regarding potential trials on other remote islands, and we are following these emerging projects with great excitement and full support for their success.
 

In Taranaki, Econode has been helping to develop technology to monitor RFID-microchipped penguins (kororā) in collaboration with the Ngāmotu Marine Reserve Society (https://www.ngamotu.org.nz/koror-krero-little-blue). These little blue penguins are increasingly affected by human activity, and by studying their movements and behaviour we can gain valuable insights that help protect them and make a meaningful difference.

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It is with sadness that our dear friend and long term co-collaborator Warren Davies passed away, We will be continuing his work on using the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor the health of water in our streams and rivers. 

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This year’s journey would not have been possible without the incredible support of our community, clients, partners, and dedicated team. Your trust, constructive feedback, and collaboration have been instrumental in driving Econode forward. As we close the chapter on 2025, we look ahead with excitement and anticipation to the opportunities that 2026 will bring.

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Econode staff will be taking a well-deserved break during the holiday period. Our office will be closed from Friday, 19th December 2025 and reopening on Monday, 12th January 2026. 

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Mēre Kirihimete me te Tau Hou! 🎄🥂
We wish you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

 

From Matt, Ann and Manuka Way of Team Econode