Crankworx Rotorua New Zealand | Tait Client Story

The soul of the international Crankworx circuit

In 2026, the festival hosted 730 athletes, including 160 international competitors, and about 44,000 visits across the 5-day festival. The event has become a cornerstone of Rotorua's tourism calendar and earned a reputation as the "soul of Crankworx" for its unique blend of world-class riding and local culture.

But delivering an event at that scale requires communications that can keep teams connected across challenging terrain and demanding event conditions where cellular coverage is limited or unavailable.

The challenge of communicating in remote event environments

Operating a major international sporting event requires a high level of coordination across multiple teams and communications must support event management, marshals, medics, operations staff, and broadcast crews throughout the multi-day event.

The festival is primarily staged across Skyline Rotorua and the Whakarewarewa Forest, with teams operating across remote locations where cellular coverage can be limited or unavailable. But regardless of the terrain or weather conditions, the communication systems must remain dependable.

"With the event being staged across two areas which have little or no cell phone coverage, radio communications are essential to the smooth running of the event."
– Vernon Douglas, Alcom Communications

Event staff member wearing a radio harness walks beside the race course. Photo credit: Clint Trahan

Event crew member with a two-way radio speaks with people beside the race course.
Photo credit: Clint Trahan

A solution designed for unique event operations

Alcom Communications has supported Crankworx Rotorua’s communications since the event’s inaugural year in Rotorua in 2015. Over that time, the relationship has grown, with Alcom now serving as the event’s official communication supplier and an event partner/sponsor.

The deployment included:

About 135 Tait TP9300 portable radios
Tait TM9300 mobile radios
Six operational talkgroups
Individual calling capabilities
Radio-to-phone connectivity
Wide-area coverage across event locations

Over time, Crankworx Rotorua’s communications requirements became more complex and since 2024, the event has been using the Alcom Connect DMR Tier 3 network with a Tait radio solution. This solution provides a single communications environment across the main event sites and wider Rotorua area, giving operational teams the capabilities needed for a large-scale outdoor event.

"Reliable communications and connectivity infrastructure is one of those things that the public never sees but the entire event operation depends on, and having Alcom in our corner helps solidify our confidence going into each festival. "

Tuhua MutuEvent Director - Crankworx NZ

Supporting safer, more coordinated events

The move to a DMR Tier 3 network helped Crankworx support a more connected operating model across its event footprint. Instead of relying on separate site-based communications, teams can now communicate across a wider event footprint while remaining connected through a single communications environment.

This means communications better reflect the way the event actually runs: multiple teams working in parallel, often across remote or high-traffic areas, with safety and timing dependent on clear coordination.

Photo credit: Clint Trahan

Event staff member with a radio and smartphone sits beside the course.

Event crew members wearing radios watch the course from behind a barrier.

Event crew member wearing a radio harness gives two thumbs up in the rain.

Mountain biker performs a jump above a dirt landing during a competition.

Event staff member wearing a radio harness gives a thumbs-up.
Photo credit: Clint Trahan

Local expertise backed by proven radio technology

Alcom’s long-term relationship with the Crankworx team gives the event access to local support, event knowledge, and practical communications expertise, while the Tait Tough TP9300 radios provide the durable field equipment needed for demanding outdoor conditions.

Together, that combination reflects the strength of Tait’s dealer network: locally delivered solutions supported by radio technology designed for critical operational environments.

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Crankworx Rotorua: World-Class Comms For a World-Class Event

Crankworx Rotorua: World-Class Comms For a World-Class Event

The soul of the international Crankworx circuit

The challenge of communicating in remote event environments

A solution designed for unique event operations

“Reliable communications and connectivity infrastructure is one of those things that the public never sees but the entire event operation depends on, and having Alcom in our corner helps solidify our confidence going into each festival.”

Supporting safer, more coordinated events

Local expertise backed by proven radio technology

Talk to an expert to see how the right comms could support your next event

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