The Ocius NZ facility will provide onshore maintenance and technical support for the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessel (USV) fleet, helping to maximize their availability for persistent surveillance across New Zealand’s vast maritime domain.
The facility also gives Ocius a strategically located base in the Pacific as demand for autonomous maritime surveillance continues to grow across the region.
The Royal New Zealand Navy acquired Ocius Bluebottles in April 2025 after a seven-month trial of the platform.
The Auckland facility draws on New Zealand’s strong maritime and advanced manufacturing expertise and is creating highly skilled local roles in maritime autonomy and engineering. Ocius plans to expand the facility as demand for autonomous maritime surveillance increases.
Its establishment comes as Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific nations increase their focus on maintaining persistent maritime surveillance across vast areas of ocean for defense, border security, and the disruption of transnational organized crime.
In March 2026, the Australian Government announced a $176 million investment to deliver a further 40 Australian-designed and built Bluebottles, in addition to the 15 Bluebottles operated by Australia’s maritime Border Command.
Globally, uncrewed maritime systems are also demonstrating the asymmetric advantages of persistent, low-cost autonomous capability in increasingly contested environments.
Powered by solar, wind, and wave energy, Bluebottle USVs can remain at sea for extended periods, providing persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance without the need for continuous crewed operations.
Bluebottles support defense, customs, and other agencies by providing real-time surface and sub-surface maritime awareness, operating alongside crewed and uncrewed platforms as part of a broader surveillance network.
This capability is increasingly important as transnational organized crime groups exploit Pacific maritime routes to move illicit drugs towards New Zealand and Australia.
Ocius NZ is currently expanding its Auckland-based team and recruiting people with relevant technical and engineering skills, including candidates with current New Zealand security clearances.
Quotes attributable to Robert Dane, Chief Executive Officer of Ocius Technology: “We are excited to be expanding Ocius’ on-the-ground presence in New Zealand as we continue to grow our operations across the Pacific.”
“Ocius has been working with the Royal New Zealand Navy and New Zealand Customs Service for two years, supporting efforts to strengthen maritime awareness and help combat transnational organized crime.”
“The establishment of Ocius NZ means Bluebottles can be maintained locally and returned to the water as quickly as possible, helping maximize their availability and persistent presence at sea.”
“It also gives Ocius an additional operational base in the Pacific as our fleet continues to grow across the region.”
“We look forward to continuing to support New Zealand’s maritime security and its wider role in maintaining security across the Pacific.”
Quotes attributable to Chief of Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding: “New Zealand is a maritime nation. Its prosperity, security, and its role in the Pacific depends on knowing what is happening across a vast area of ocean. USVs are an important part of the Defence Force’s move towards smarter, more sustainable maritime surveillance.
“Our Bluebottles, Tahi and Rua, are enabling us to maintain a persistent watch over New Zealand’s maritime environment. The establishment of Ocius NZ’s facility means our Bluebottles can be maintained locally, maximizing their time at sea and strengthening New Zealand’s national security.”
