A signal from the soil

When we think about the internet, we usually look up at the sky. These days, everyone is talking about Starlink and how those little satellites are zooming over our heads. It is amazing tech, and for many of our rural whānau in the deep valleys of the North, it certainly plugs a gap. But I have been watching something else happening quietly right under our feet.

Northpower Fibre and Top Energy are continuing to roll out land-based fibre cables. Some people say this is a waste of money now that the sky is full of satellites. I couldn't disagree more. I believe that terrestrial, or land-based, fibre is going to be a key part of our sovereignty as Ngāpuhi and tāngata whenua.

Why the land matters

There is a big difference between a signal that comes from a foreign-owned satellite and a signal that travels through a physical cable buried in our own whenua. When our data travels through the soil, it stays connected to our identity.

A blockchain-based digital marketplace allowing households with solar panels to sell excess power directly to neighbours.

This platform is a decentralised energy marketplace that enables Northland residents to trade excess solar power within their own neighborhoods. It serves whānau who want lower energy bills and energy-producing households looking for a fair return on their investment without the "middle-man" of a national retailer.

The Problem: The current "Colonial Grid" is a linear, centralised system where energy value is extracted from the region by offshore-owned retailers. Households with solar panels are often paid pennies for the energy they export, while their neighbours are charged high rates for that same power.

The Solution: We are building a "Mesh Network" of distributed sovereignty. Our blockchain platform allows households to sell energy directly to their neighbours at a mutually beneficial price, bypassing the national grid retailer and keeping wealth in the region.