Telesmart Earns Government Endorsement For Their Secure Network Services
Telesmart has been officially endorsed by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) for its Network Management and Administration services – a clear sign of the company's commitment to delivering secure, reliable technology to organisations in Aotearoa.
Telesmart offers the comprehensive Cisco Meraki suite of products, including LAN, SD-WAN, Wi-Fi access points, firewalls, security solutions, IoT sensors, cameras, and a centralised management dashboard.
'We're proud to be one of a select group of Information Communications Technology (ICT) providers in Aotearoa to receive this endorsement from the Department of Internal Affairs, it's a clear signal that our customers are working with a provider who takes security seriously and delivers with integrity.' said Nigel Barker, Chief Executive Officer at Telesmart.
This endorsement comes through the All-of-Government (AoG) Marketplace, which helps public sector agencies find trusted suppliers for ICT services. Telesmart's inclusion means its services meet key government standards for information security – including alignment with Protective Security Requirements (PSR) and the New Zealand Information Security Manual (NZISM).
What the endorsement means
The Tier 2 Information Security Endorsement is more than a formality. It shows that Telesmart has provided up-to-date and relevant documentation – including ISO 27001 certification, SOC 2 Type 2 reports, independent audits, and internal governance policies – that meet the DIA's expectations.
For public sector teams, this means less time spent on supplier checks. While each organisation still needs to carry out its own risk assessment, the endorsement offers a strong starting point and added confidence in the service's security posture.
A practical win for public sector teams
Geof Robinson, Chief Information Security Officer at Telesmart, says the endorsement is a practical step forward:
'Public sector teams face constant pressure to deliver secure, reliable services - often with limited time and resources. This endorsement simplifies that challenge, empowering agencies to choose technology with confidence without adding unnecessary complexity.'
Telesmart's endorsed service helps organisations manage their networks securely and efficiently. It's part of a broader offering that includes managed telephony, IT support, and cloud solutions – all designed to keep teams connected and protected.
Built for organisations in Aotearoa
Telesmart has built its reputation by supporting organisations that need tailored solutions and personal attention – particularly those who have challenges in finding that level of care or flexibility from other providers. The company focuses on outcomes that matter, like improving operational resilience, simplifying communications, and supporting remote work.
What sets Telesmart apart is its hands-on approach. Every service request is reviewed to ensure the appropriate team of experts is assigned. Progress is tracked through quality dashboards, and if there are issues there's a clear escalation path from the Help Desk Manager to the Head of Professional Services, and ultimately to the CEO - a structure designed for accountability and fast resolution.
Why it matters
Secure and well-managed networks are essential. Whether it's a local council, school, healthcare provider, or government department, organisations need to know their ICT provider takes security seriously – and understands the practical realities of service delivery.
This endorsement reinforces Telesmart's position as a trusted partner for organisations looking for straightforward, secure, and scalable ICT services.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Techday NZ
an hour ago
- Techday NZ
Telesmart joins AoG Marketplace to provide secure network services
Telesmart has been listed in the All-of-Government (AoG) Marketplace for its Network Management and Administration services in New Zealand. The company offers a full range of Cisco Meraki products and related network solutions, covering local area networks (LAN), SD-WAN, Wi-Fi access points, firewalls, security products, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, security cameras, and a centralised management dashboard for administrators. Through its inclusion in the AoG Marketplace, Telesmart is now more accessible to public sector organisations seeking network management services that align with government information security requirements. Government standards Telesmart's membership confirms that its services meet key government standards for information security, including adherence to the Protective Security Requirements (PSR) and the guidelines set out in the New Zealand Information Security Manual (NZISM). The AoG Marketplace functions as a procurement hub, allowing public sector agencies to identify and engage suppliers with appropriate credentials and capabilities for ICT services. Nigel Barker, Chief Executive Officer at Telesmart, said, "We're pleased to be listed in the AoG Marketplace for our network services, it's a clear signal that our customers are working with a provider who takes security seriously and delivers with integrity." To gain this listing, Telesmart provided a range of documentation, including ISO 27001 certification, SOC 2 Type 2 reports, independent audit results, and internal governance policies that demonstrate their commitment to robust security practices and corporate governance. Supplier assessment facilitated The AoG Marketplace listing streamlines the supplier evaluation processes for New Zealand's public sector organisations, allowing them to devote less time and resources to supplier due diligence. Each public sector agency is still required to conduct its own risk assessment on potential suppliers, but Telesmart's listing in the Marketplace is intended to give agencies greater initial confidence in the company's security posture. Geof Robinson, Chief Information Security Officer at Telesmart, said, "Public sector teams face constant pressure to deliver secure, reliable services - often with limited time and resources. Being listed in the Marketplace simplifies that challenge, empowering agencies to choose technology with confidence without adding unnecessary complexity." In addition to network management and administration, Telesmart offers managed telephony, IT support for network operations, and cloud collaboration solutions. These services are intended to provide organisations with resilient and unified communication and IT environments. Approach to service delivery Telesmart provides tailored solutions to support organisations requiring personalised attention or who face challenges obtaining this level of care from other providers. The company's service delivery model focuses on practical outcomes, such as enhancing operational resilience, enabling remote work, and simplifying communications channels for teams distributed across different locations. The approach to customer request management features a review process in which relevant technical experts are assigned to each service request. Progress on resolving issues is monitored through a set of quality dashboards, and a formal escalation structure is in place. Service issues can be elevated from the Help Desk Manager to the Head of Professional Services and ultimately to the Chief Executive Officer if required. This escalation path is intended to ensure accountability and the speedy resolution of customer concerns. Information security and operational needs Secure, well-managed networks remain a core requirement for a broad range of organisations in New Zealand. Schools, healthcare providers, local governments, and national government departments must ensure their networks are secure and that their ICT providers are responsive to both technical and practical service challenges. Through its inclusion in the AoG Marketplace, Telesmart is positioned as a supplier that meets the government's requirements for information security and network management, offering public sector organisations an option for secure and scalable ICT services. "We're pleased to be listed in the AoG Marketplace for our network services, it's a clear signal that our customers are working with a provider who takes security seriously and delivers with integrity." "Public sector teams face constant pressure to deliver secure, reliable services - often with limited time and resources. Being listed in the Marketplace simplifies that challenge, empowering agencies to choose technology with confidence without adding unnecessary complexity."
Scoop
4 hours ago
- Scoop
Metropolitan Wellington Councils Confirm New Water Services Delivery Model
Press Release – Porirua City Council The decision to move to this new model for water services delivery has been prompted by the Governments Local Water Done Well policy, which has mandated that all councils must review how water services are delivered. Five councils covering the Wellington metropolitan area – Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council, Upper Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council – have all now confirmed they will establish a new, jointly-owned organisation to deliver water services to their communities. The decision to move to this new model for water services delivery has been prompted by the Government's Local Water Done Well policy, which has mandated that all councils must review how water services are delivered. In March and April 2025 the councils publicly consulted on water service delivery options. Across all five councils, submissions showed solid support for the preferred option of a multi-council-owned water organisation, ranging from 69 to 84 percent of submissions in favour. The five councils have now all voted to go ahead with the new organisation, which will take accountability for water services on 1 July 2026. Mana whenua iwi Ngāti Toa Rangitira and Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika support this decision and are partnering with councils on improving water services delivery. The new organisation, with the interim name Metro Water, will own and operate public drinking water, wastewater and reticulated stormwater assets for a population of around 430,000 people. Advisory Oversight Group chair Dame Kerry Prendergast says councils and mana whenua have been clear throughout the process that the intent is to provide better levels of service for communities through reduced leaks, outages and unplanned disruptions, while also enabling growth and delivering cleaner harbours and waterways. 'By establishing a council-owned organisation, we are ensuring assets are retained in public ownership and there is no privatisation. It also means councils, representing their communities, and mana whenua will have ongoing oversight.' 'Metro Water will have the resources, independence and region-wide perspective to effectively manage and improve three waters services for current and future communities,' says Dame Kerry. The next steps are to finalise key foundation documents for the new organisation, finalise a Water Services Delivery Plan for submission to the Government, and appoint interim board directors and an interim Chief Executive. Factsheet – what's planned for water services in Metropolitan Wellington New water organisation accountable for water services from 1 July 2026 There will be a new multi-council-owned water organisation that will take charge of drinking water, wastewater and reticulated stormwater services within the boundaries of Hutt City, Porirua City, Upper Hutt City and Wellington City, from 1 July 2026. For planning purposes, a temporary, placeholder name of Metro Water is being used for the new organisation. This is not intended to be the permanent name. Metro Water will have new governance and ownership arrangements, new leadership and new strategic direction that will distinguish it from Wellington Water. To ensure ongoing service delivery and to retain expertise and experience, it is the intent of councils that Metro Water will absorb Wellington Water operational and support staff below senior management (known as tier 3 and below). Governance and oversight Metro Water will have an independent Board, appointed by a steering committee of representatives of the five council owners and representatives of Ngāti Toa Rangitira and Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika. Councils and mana whenua will set the framework for Metro Water through foundation documents (currently being developed) – Stakeholder Agreement, Constitution, Statement of Expectations and Consumer Charter. These will be in final draft by October 2025 and ratified by councils in late 2025. Metro Water will operate in line with new water services legislation and regulatory oversight will be provided by the Commerce Commission (consumer protection and charging), the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai (water standards) and Greater Wellington Regional Council (environmental compliance). Charging Metro Water will charge directly for water services. Initially, interim billing arrangements are likely to be in place until Metro Water has established systems and processes. Regardless of billing arrangements, water charges will be clearly separate from rates. Charges will have to increase over the next decade, as the backlog of long-overdue upgrades is tackled. Economic and financial modelling indicates that Metro Water will keep costs about a third lower than would be the case if the status quo continued. That's because Metro Water will have greater ability to borrow money than councils currently do and costs can be spread over a longer period of time. It's also expected to deliver economies of scale and efficiencies. The exact amount of water charges will be influenced by a number of factors including how costs are shared between commercial water users and households, the scheduling of upgrade works and investment, and moving to consistent charges across the metropolitan area. Currently households and commercial water users pay different amounts through rates in each city. Water services delivery plan All councils are required to present a Water Services Delivery Plan to Government by 3 September 2025. The Metropolitan Wellington Water Services Delivery Plan will set out how the five councils will meet requirements of the Government's Local Water Done Well reforms, including statutory requirements under the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024. Implementation Interim Board Directors will be appointed prior to October 2025 by the council representatives on the existing Advisory Oversight Group. The interim board will appoint an interim Chief Executive and oversee establishment of Metro Water. In due course, the interim board will be replaced by an enduring board appointed by the Stakeholder Committee. Some initial work is already underway on interim director recruitment and planning for IT and customer systems and processes for Metro Water. Implementation is being jointly funded by the five councils.
Scoop
5 hours ago
- Scoop
Taupō District Council Adopts Its Annual Plan
Taupō District Council yesterday adopted its Annual Plan for the 2025/26 year. The Annual Plan process provides Council the ability to set both the rates and the fees and charges for the next year. In its Long-term Plan 2024-34, Council forecast an 8.3 percent rates increase for the financial year beginning today. The final rates increase is 0.1 percent higher at 8.4 percent. In the nine months between the Long-term Plan being adopted and the Annual Plan, there have been a number of unplanned increases to essential business costs, mostly driven by central government requirements as well as rises in contract costs. Staff worked hard to find budget reductions and trade-offs to find a balance. The changes mean there will be a slower pace of delivering some projects although key commitments in the Long-term Plan, such as water treatment plant upgrades, will still be delivered. Councillors said putting up rates was a difficult decision because many of the unplanned costs have arisen due to new central government requirements. Councils are primarily funded by rates and therefore have no other way to pay for the increased costs involved in projects such as government water reform. Mayor David Trewavas summed up councillors' sentiment towards unfunded government directives, saying 'stop flogging us at every opportunity'. After rates were charged in three instalments last year due to late adoption of the Long-term Plan, rates instalments for the 2025-26 year will revert to the usual quarterly pattern of August, November, February and May. There are also various options for people to pay monthly, fortnightly or even weekly. For people struggling to pay their rates, Department of Internal Affairs administers a rates rebate scheme which was extended to more SuperGold cardholders in last month's Budget. You can find out more information about the scheme here:
