In order to fast-track Auckland’s progress, and to consolidate expenditure across the region, the eight councils (Auckland Regional Council, Auckland City Council, Manukau City Council, Waitakere City Council, North Shore City Council, Papakura District Council, Rodney District Council and most of Franklin District Council) were restructured into one ‘super-council’ or ‘super-city’ on 1 November 2010, with one mayor and 20 councillors, making it the largest council in Australasia.

Problem
Pre-1 November, every council had its own communications solution: none of them integrated.  Kordia had been involved in a range of discussions to help streamline communications of the various councils for several months.

When the ‘super-city’ Auckland Transport Authority put out a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for Radio Communications, Kordia responded and was successful – kicking off a process to introduce KorKor integrated two-way digital radio technology to parking wardens across the region.

Solution
KorKor is two-way digital radio with a difference. Crystal clear sound is complemented by cell-calling and SMS features, as well as GPS fleet tracking and ‘man-down’ security features.

Using a single device, Auckland parking wardens now have access to a cell phone, two- way radio and portable GPS system all in one.

And like their counterparts from Hutt City Council in Wellington, Auckland’s parking wardens no longer need to worry about their safety when working after dark, or in potentially dangerous environments like car-parking buildings or poorly-lit back streets.

The panic button that is built into the integrated device is monitored 24/7, so security is only a thumb-press away.

The Kordia team pulled out all the stops to deliver the KorKor service in time for the 1 November transition date.

The order for 187 handsets was placed, the equipment shipped, and the programme set up and tested over a long weekend: a nine-day deadline was met a day early, and Auckland Transport staff were trained and operational by D-Day, 1 November.

“The deployment team did an outstanding job of delivering this solution on time for Auckland Transport,” says Kordia Account Director Jannine Wilkinson. “The work that went in to exceeding the customer’s expectations on this job was formidable. I was impressed,” she says.

Rick Bidgood, Parking Enforcement Manager for Auckland Transport says that implementation of pre- November 01 requirements from KorKor was delivered as agreed, with a high level of effectiveness given the very tight turnaround required.

“Stage one is up and working well. As we discover any operational issues our Account Director provides very prompt assistance to resolve our issues.

“We look forward to the implementation of stage two in the system, to further enhance our capability,” says Bidgood.

Auckland Transport’s head of IT Roger Jones says that he could not be more delighted – both with the solution itself, and with the dedicated service that he has been getting from the Kordia team.

“We needed a simple, effective, integrated two-way radio solution and that’s what we got with KorKor – and then some! The feedback from the parking wardens is that they feel a lot more connected to each other throughout their shift, and that their security concerns have all but vanished thanks to the panic button KorKor offers.”

“KorKor is an integrated communications solution without peer,” says Jones.

More information
For more information, please contact:
E. jannine.wilkinson@kordia.co.nz