Kordia
Kordia is a New Zealand state-owned communications infrastructure and technology services company.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Kordia is a New Zealand state-owned enterprise whose business combines communications infrastructure, broadcast transmission, connectivity, cloud services, managed information technology, cyber security, field services, and safety-of-life communications. The company operates primarily in New Zealand and is headquartered in Auckland, with additional offices and operational facilities in Wellington and Christchurch. It is best known for the extensive transmission infrastructure developed over several generations of New Zealand broadcasting, but its contemporary business is broader than television transmission. The company's direct predecessor was established on 1 July 1989 as Broadcast Communications Limited, or BCL, a subsidiary of Television New Zealand. In 2003, following the restructuring of TVNZ under the Television New Zealand Act 2003, BCL was separated from TVNZ and placed within a new state-owned entity called Transmission Holdings Limited. The broadcasting business continued to trade as BCL until the wider group was rebranded Kordia in November 2006. The name was derived from the Latin word “accordia,” associated with harmony and agreement. Kordia owns and operates a geographically extensive New Zealand telecommunications network based primarily on digital microwave links, while also accessing fibre routes between Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Its infrastructure portfolio includes almost 400 high sites, which can be used by other network operators for equipment co-location. The company describes this network as one of New Zealand's largest by geographical reach. Its infrastructure heritage extends through the former New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, Television New Zealand, BCL, and Transmission Holdings, creating a nationwide chain of transmission towers and related facilities. Broadcasting remains a major operating area. Kordia operates New Zealand's digital terrestrial television and direct-to-home satellite television platforms, carrying channels and services from broadcasters including TVNZ, Three, Sky Television, Māori Television, Parliament TV, and regional and ethnic broadcasters. It also operates radio transmission infrastructure for services such as RNZ National, RNZ Concert, and other commercial and community networks. In 2007, Kordia upgraded high-site infrastructure to support the country's digital terrestrial television platform, later used by Freeview. New Zealand completed its nationwide transition from analogue to digital television in 2013. The company also provides communications for maritime safety. Its Maritime Operations Centre, established in 1993, operates from Wellington and supports safety-of-life-at-sea communications on behalf of Maritime New Zealand. Kordia builds, operates, and maintains high-frequency and very-high-frequency radio networks and is responsible for NAVAREA XIV, a maritime navigation-warning region covering approximately 50 million square kilometres. Kordia also operates network and cyber-defence centres for its technology customers. During the 2000s and 2010s, Kordia expanded beyond broadcast infrastructure. It bought internet service provider Orcon in 2007, supported Orcon's launch of local-loop-unbundled broadband and ADSL2+ services, and sold the business in 2013. From 2015 onward, acquisitions in cyber security, cloud consulting, managed IT, and security operations strengthened its enterprise technology portfolio. These included Aura Information Security, Emerging Technology Partners, Base2, and SecOps NZ. Kordia divested its Australian contracting business, Kordia Solutions Australia, to Ventia in 2021. The resulting business profile combines long-established national infrastructure with newer recurring services in cloud, managed IT, connectivity, and cyber security.
History
Kordia's history is rooted in New Zealand's national broadcasting and transmission system. The modern business began on 1 July 1989, when Broadcast Communications Limited was formed as a subsidiary of Television New Zealand. BCL inherited and developed technical infrastructure used to distribute television and radio signals across the country. A major structural change occurred in 2003. The restructuring of TVNZ under the Television New Zealand Act separated BCL from TVNZ and placed it within Transmission Holdings Limited, also known as the THL Group. The new state-owned group assumed a substantial share of TVNZ-related debt, which affected its early financial and operating position. BCL continued as the New Zealand broadcasting operation within the new structure. In November 2006, Transmission Holdings and its associated businesses were rebranded Kordia. The name was linked to “accordia,” a Latin-derived term suggesting harmony. The rebrand marked an effort to present the group as a broader communications and infrastructure company rather than solely a broadcast transmission operator. Kordia expanded into telecommunications through the purchase of internet provider Orcon in June 2007. Orcon subsequently introduced local-loop-unbundled telephone and broadband services, including ADSL2+ access. Kordia sold Orcon in April 2013 to Vivid Networks. Orcon was later sold by its new owner to Callplus in 2014. Broadcast infrastructure remained central to the company. Kordia upgraded its high sites in 2007 to support digital terrestrial television, and its infrastructure became part of the platform carrying Freeview services. New Zealand completed its transition from analogue television to digital transmission in 2013. Kordia also maintained radio networks and high sites used by broadcasters and other communications operators. The company has a separate safety-critical communications heritage. In 1993, the business then known as BCL opened a Maritime Operations Centre. Kordia continues to provide maritime communications for Maritime New Zealand, operating high-frequency and very-high-frequency radio systems and supporting NAVAREA XIV, a large maritime navigation-warning region. Operational facilities include maritime centres, a network operations centre, and a cyber-defence operations centre. From 2015, Kordia accelerated diversification into enterprise technology. It acquired Aura Information Security, adding specialist cyber security consulting. In 2020 it bought Emerging Technology Partners to deepen cloud consulting capability. In 2021 it announced acquisitions of Base2, a managed IT and cloud services provider, and SecOps NZ, a managed cyber security company. These transactions broadened the company from infrastructure ownership and broadcast operations into managed technology and cyber defence. Also in 2021, Kordia sold its Australian contracting business, Kordia Solutions Australia, to Ventia. This divestment reduced the scope of its contracting operations outside New Zealand while leaving Kordia focused on its New Zealand infrastructure, broadcast, maritime, connectivity, cloud, managed IT, and cyber security activities. Kordia remains a state-owned enterprise operating mainly from Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
- 2021
Base2 and SecOps NZ transactions announced
[1]Kordia expands managed IT, cloud, network, and managed cyber security services.
- 2021
Kordia Solutions Australia is sold
[1]Ventia acquires Kordia's Australian contracting business.
- 2020
Emerging Technology Partners is acquired
[1]Kordia expands its cloud consulting capability through the Auckland-based consultancy.
- 2015
Aura Information Security is acquired
[1]The acquisition establishes a stronger specialist cyber security presence within Kordia.
- 2013
Orcon is divested and analogue television ends
[1]Kordia sells Orcon and supports the infrastructure environment surrounding New Zealand's completion of digital television switchover.
- 2007
Orcon is acquired and digital television infrastructure is upgraded
[1]Kordia enters the ISP market through Orcon and upgrades high sites for digital terrestrial television.
- 2006
Group adopts the Kordia name
[1]Transmission Holdings and related businesses are rebranded Kordia.
- 2003
BCL separates from TVNZ
[1]BCL is placed within the separately structured state-owned Transmission Holdings group during TVNZ's restructuring.
- 1993
Maritime Operations Centre opens
[1]BCL establishes a maritime communications centre supporting safety-of-life-at-sea services.
- 1989
Broadcast Communications Limited is formed
[1]BCL is established as a Television New Zealand subsidiary and becomes the direct predecessor of Kordia.
Products and positioning
A national communications infrastructure and technology partner combining broadcast, connectivity, maritime safety, managed IT, cloud, and cyber security capabilities.
Broadcast infrastructure
Broadcast transmission
Kordia operates national digital terrestrial and direct-to-home satellite distribution platforms for television and radio broadcasters. Its infrastructure carries public, commercial, Māori, regional, ethnic, and parliamentary services. The business also manages a large portfolio of transmission towers and high sites used for broadcasting and third-party communications equipment.
Telecommunications
Connectivity network
Kordia's New Zealand network is based primarily on digital microwave technology, supplemented by access to fibre routes between Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Its geographical reach and high-site portfolio support connectivity, backhaul, network access, and infrastructure co-location for enterprise and communications customers.
Information technology services
Cloud and managed IT services
Kordia provides cloud consulting, managed IT, network management, and related technology services. Its expansion in this area was supported by the acquisitions of Emerging Technology Partners and Base2, adding cloud and managed-services expertise across Microsoft, Cisco, Azure, AWS, VMware, Adobe, and related enterprise environments.
Cyber security services · 2015
Cyber security
Kordia's cyber security business includes consulting, security monitoring, managed cyber security, and cyber-defence operations. Aura Information Security added specialist consulting capability, while SecOps NZ strengthened managed security services and contributed to the development of Kordia's Cyber Defence Operations function.
Safety communications · 1993
Maritime safety communications
Through its Maritime Operations Centres, Kordia provides safety-of-life-at-sea communications on behalf of Maritime New Zealand. It operates and maintains HF and VHF radio networks and supports NAVAREA XIV, the maritime navigation-warning area covering a substantial portion of the Pacific and surrounding oceans.
Infrastructure services
High-site co-location
Kordia makes many of its strategically located transmission sites available for co-location. Other network operators can install equipment at these sites, using the company's nationwide tower and facilities footprint to extend or maintain communications coverage.
Brand decisions
2021
Expansion through Base2 and SecOps NZM&ABackground
Kordia was broadening its enterprise technology portfolio into managed IT, cloud, and cyber security services.
Action taken
It announced the acquisition of managed IT provider Base2 and acquired managed cyber security provider SecOps NZ.
Aftermath
The transactions expanded managed service capabilities and supported the creation of a Cyber Defence Operations function.
2021
Divestment of Kordia Solutions AustraliaStrategyBackground
Kordia reviewed the scope of its contracting operations outside its core New Zealand market.
Action taken
It sold Kordia Solutions Australia to Ventia.
Aftermath
Kordia became more concentrated on New Zealand infrastructure, communications, broadcast, cloud, managed IT, and cyber security services.
2015
Acquisition of Aura Information SecurityM&ABackground
Kordia wanted to build a stronger information security business alongside its infrastructure operations.
Action taken
It acquired Wellington-based cyber security consultancy Aura Information Security.
Aftermath
Aura became part of Kordia's expanding cyber security offering and received industry recognition in 2017 and 2018.
2007
Purchase of OrconM&ABackground
Kordia sought to expand from transmission infrastructure into telecommunications and internet services.
Action taken
It acquired New Zealand ISP and telecommunications company Orcon.
Aftermath
Orcon launched local-loop-unbundled services and ADSL2+ broadband, before being sold by Kordia in 2013.
Purchase price. (2007)
Sources1 sources
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