Local production, Global audience.
We recently had the pleasure of telling the story of Navicom Dynamics—and I’m always blown away by the ‘under-the-radar’ Kiwi businesses making waves on the global stage.
Navicom isn’t just playing internationally—they’re leading. A specialist in piloting and navigation systems, they produce customisable docking, mooring, and berthing aids—designed and manufactured right here in New Zealand, and used in over 150 locations worldwide.
If I had to describe them in three words: smart, humble, and highly specialised.
The brief was simple: "Tell our story and show our products in action."
Simple in theory. The challenge? Coordinating with the international shipping schedule to find a commercial vessel arriving at the Port of Auckland during daylight hours, getting onboard, directing the captain and pilot to make course adjustments on approach, all while flying drones, giving directions, and generally staying out of the crew’s way.
Shoot day began with light rain as the PURE crew boarded the pilot vessel for a 35-minute ride to intercept the ship north of Rangitoto. Rain or not, the drone was launched into a fresh 20-knot breeze, and we got to work.
The next challenge? Getting four crew, two cameras, and three flight cases aboard the ship—no small feat. It involved a six-metre climb up a rope ladder as both vessels matched speed and course. A true exercise in timing and coordination!
The following day, we filmed at Navicom’s North Shore facility, capturing their team designing, manufacturing, and testing their portable pilot units (PPUs)—a hands-on look at innovation in action.
The final result? A suite of content including short product explainer videos, a conference/trade show feature, and a brand video that profiles the business and its people.
This project was a powerful reminder of the Kiwi ingenuity that drives so many of our industries—and how, despite being a small nation, we continue to punch well above our weight on the world stage. Check out the Navicom story below
