One New Zealand changes name to ‘Twos NZ’ this Conservation Week to highlight remote toilet tech-led revolution for nature via McCann NZ

One New Zealand has changed its name to Twos NZ this Conservation Week, in a cheeky play on “ones and twos” created by creative agency McCann New Zealand – turning toilet humour into a rallying cry for conservation, and revealing the technology behind it.

The temporary rebrand across One NZ’s stores, offices, digital platforms and even their network banner is intended to highlight One NZ’s partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the launch of the Connected Conservation programme that was announced earlier this week. The pilot scheme involves the installation of smart sensors in around 50 remote DOC toilets, huts, and wastewater systems to revolutionise how New Zealand protects its most precious places.

The playful name change references what happens in those iconic remote DOC loos – but the technology behind it is serious business. Delivered through the One NZ satellite network alongside other connectivity approaches, the sensors provide real-time data on wastewater levels, facility use, animal interactions with traps, and pest monitoring across some of the country’s most remote tracks.

For DOC – who manage around 2,000 toilets nationwide, many in locations with no traditional cell coverage – this means rangers can remotely monitor facilities, better plan maintenance, and identify issues early. More importantly, it frees up critical time and resources for frontline conservation work.

Says One NZs Brand Lead Jane King: “This is a really exciting step forward in how we’re working alongside DOC as one of their National Conservation Partners – bringing innovation and industry-leading technology right to the frontline of conservation in a practical, on-the-ground way.

“For Conservation Week, we wanted to get people thinking a bit differently about nature – including the parts we usually overlook or don’t talk about. Remote DOC toilets might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but they’re essential infrastructure, and looking after them properly plays a real role in protecting these environments.

“Our name change to Twos NZ is a light-hearted way to draw attention to that. It might start with something people would normally dismiss, but it opens the door to a much bigger story about how technology can help DOC work smarter, reduce impact, and protect nature in ways we’re only just beginning to explore.”

The Connected Conservation programme represents a new approach for DOC, shifting from fixed maintenance schedules to a responsive, needs-based model. Beyond toilets, the pilot will also trial smart traps and trail cameras to remotely control and monitor pests in areas where some of New Zealand’s most precious species live.

The main efficiencies would come from reducing the need for routine manual inspections, helicopter flights, and vehicle travel, and enabling more targeted deployment of DOC staff. On some of DOC’s busiest tracks, this translates to more than $1 million in savings over a six‑year period, together with around 30 tonnes of avoided CO₂ emissions. Less time spent checking if things need fixing, emptying, or resetting means more time spent doing the critical conservation mahi DOC is known for.

Kieran Byrne, Chief Technology Officer at One NZ says, bringing innovation and industry-leading technology to the frontline of conservation is exactly what they want to be doing with this partnership: “By combining our network with smart sensor technology, we’re opening up entirely new ways of working in some of the country’s most remote environments. With One NZ Satellite we have extended coverage into the 40% of New Zealand with no traditional signal – that’s what makes programmes like this possible.

“Together, we’re supporting smarter, tech-enabled conservation, while also helping build a stronger connection between people and the natural environment. It’s connectivity with purpose, and it’s just the beginning of how our network can be used to support DOC’s important work across the motu.”

The first sensors of the pilot programme were installed earlier this month, with rollout focused on high-use and logistically complex sites across Mt Aspiring, Fiordland, and Tongariro National Parks.

One NZ will return to its original name after Conservation Week (20-26 April), but the technology – and the partnership – is here to stay.

Creative Agency: McCann
Chief Creative Officer: Leisa Wall
Creative Director: Angelo An
Creative Director: Alan Jones
Art Director: Willow Whitham
Copywriter: Zac Riddell
Head of Content / Producer: Amanda Langkilde
Editor: Corban Koschak
Managing Director: Jane Wardlaw
Senior Account Director: Amanda Guest
Photographer: Toby Burrows
Retouching: Alex Reznick

Client: One NZ
GM of Brand & Marketing: Georgia Mahaffie
Senior Brand Lead: Jane King
Brand Manager: Kamran Kazalbash

Media: McCann Media

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