The Beginning
Knighted in 1999 for his contribution to electronics, company founder Sir Angus Tait lived and breathed radio communications all his working life.
Returning to New Zealand in 1947 he was soon in business designing and assembling mobile radios. This small enterprise was the forerunner of Tait Electronics Ltd, formed in 1969, in Christchurch, New Zealand, with a staff of 12 people.
From school he went into a radio store, before joining the RNZAF at the outbreak of World War II. He was then transferred to the RAF in England where he worked on airborne radar.
The 1970s
This team produced a new generation of lightweight compact mobile radios that secured a majority share of the New Zealand market within a few years.
An unswerving commitment to research and development enabled those initial products to be developed into the award-winning Miniphone series of mobile radios by the mid-1970s.
By its tenth anniversary, Tait had launched a range of portable radios and base stations, and was exporting over 25% of its production. The first wholly-owned subsidiary was opened in the UK in 1979.
The years immediately following saw further subsidiaries established in the USA and Singapore, and the first of many export awards. The new series of synthesised Miniphones and the new range of T300 base station equipment were released around this time.
The 1980s
After a move to a larger manufacturing facility, the T500 series of mobile radios was released in the early 1980s. The success of the T500 triggered major new investment in advanced production technology and the opening of a fourth subsidiary in Australia.
Tait maintained this momentum, in terms of both innovation and growth, and in the mid-1980s a key strategic decision was made to move into trunking technology. Substantial investment followed in a broad range of trunked products and TaitNet systems based on the MPT 1327 standard.
The 1990s
The acclaimed T800 series of modular base station and repeater equipment was on the market by 1990. In that year, the T700 series appeared and two years later advanced SMD techniques saw the release of the new generation T2000 mobile radios.
Additional offshore subsidiaries were opened and in 1993, the T3000 series of hand-portables and the Quasi-Sync base station/repeater systems were introduced, followed in 1994 by a family of rural telephone products.
The first in a series of mobile data despatch products for use with the T2000 radios was also launched in 1994. That range now includes sophisticated mobile data solutions including Automatic Vehicle Location, using GPS, and the use of electronic fund transfer terminals in vehicles.
The momentum of mobile radio development continued, and in late 1996 the T3000 Series II, an enhanced version of the popular portable series, went to market. Early 1997 Tait's top selling T2000 range was also updated with the launch of the T2000 Series II.
In 1998 Tait released its most sophisticated portable radio range, the Tait Orca series, the product of advanced software design and a highly automated manufacturing process. Additional base station and system enhancements followed, including the cost-effective T1810 single-site trunked channel controller, before the release of Tait's portable radio range, the Tait Orca 5000.
The 2000s
In 2003, Tait celebrated the release of the 8000 tier of base stations and mobiles, which replaced the T800 base station and T2000 mobile. In 2008, the new TP8100 replaced the Orca as a formidably tough portable radio.
Tait entered the digital era with its 9000 tier of P25 radios and network solutions. Based on open standards and open interfaces, Tait digital equipment is truly interoperable; offering choice and value for buyers.
In August 2007, Sir Angus Tait passed away at the age of 88. His legacy is carried on by the business he created, which continues to contribute to its employees, the community and our clients.
The 2010s
Tait launched its DMR Tier 3 platform in 2012, which features spectrum doubling capacity, improved voice and coverage, data and automatic vehicle location. The same year saw the release of P25 Phase Two.
Tait grew its expertise in software and services to complement the design and manufacture of the radio hardware we're famous for.
In 2014, Tait went to market with Tait GridLink, a distribution automation solution for utilities, as well as the Tait Enable Management Tools. In 2016 we introduced the world to Tait TeamPTT, our PTToC solution. 2016 also saw the release of Tait Unified Vehicle, which creates a vehicle area network, improving connectivity and processing power in our mobile radios.
2020s and Beyond
In 2020, Tait operated with little disruption through the COVID-19 pandemic, due to New Zealand's resilient response, allowing Tait solutions to be manufactured and delivered around the world through a difficult time.
In 2021, Tait significantly expanded its product portfolio with TAIT AXIOM Broadband Solutions, the TAIT AXIOM Mobile range, the TAIT AXIOM Wearable LTE device with LMR options, and TAIT AXIOM Mobilean expanded suite of PTToC applications enabling broader mission-critical connectivity. In the mid-2020s, Tait has continued to evolve its radio portfolio with the launch of the multiband TP9800 portable and TM9800 mobile radios, followed in 2025 by the multiband, multiprotocol P25 and DMR TP9900 and TM9900 radios.
Alongside product development, Tait has accelerated expansion through acquisitions, including RFI Technology Solutions in 2024, Australian video solutions company m-View in February 2025, and Vital Ltd in September 2025, strengthening capabilities across antennas, video, networks, and digital infrastructure. The consolidated ownership of Tait Systems NZ Ltd, which is delivering tower sites for New Zealand’s nationwide Public Safety Network, also reinforces Tait’s long-term investment in critical communications infrastructure.
Mid 2020s and Beyond
Tait has continued to invest in a steadfast organic growth strategy and more recently in inorganic methods to expand the Tait Group and bring adjacent technologies that complement our core business to market, faster. Tait announced the acquisition of RFI Technology Solutions in 2024. RFI is Australia’s largest developer, manufacturer and exporter of high-performance antennas, coverage and connectivity solutions, and other wireless products used for mission-critical networks globally.
In addition, Tait Communications owns Tait Systems NZ Ltd (TSL), which formerly was a joint venture company with Kordia. The 100% owned subsidiary is building the tower sites for the nationwide Public Safety Network (PSN) in New Zealand.
In February 2025, Tait acquired Australian video solution firm m-View. The company was founded in 2005 and has a proven portfolio of video solutions including body-worn cameras, in-car video technology, and a digital evidence management platform with customers across Australia.
In September 2025, Tait Communications completed its takeover offer for 100% of the ordinary shares and options in Vital Ltd. Headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, Vital operates a network operations center (NOC) that monitors telecommunications networks across New Zealand. The company also owns and manages a nationwide digital radio network and a fiber network in Wellington City and parts of Auckland’s Central Business District. In addition, Vital owns data canters in Auckland and Wellington and two peering exchanges in New Zealand.
Tait has also continued to evolve its product portfolio, launching the multiband TP9800 portable radio and TM9800 mobile radio. The company quickly followed with multiband, multiprotocol P25 and DMR products in 2025, the TP9900 portable and TM9900 mobile radios.