Jackson May

The Percussive Problem Solver

Jackson May.

The Percussive Problem Solver.

He’s a man of many parts, having been a barber for 10 years after leaving New Plymouth Boys High.

He’s also had a stint in the music retail sector which is handy as he’s also a drummer – his current band, Gatekeepers, has an album out.

After a stint across the ditch cut short by the pandemic, he’s glad to be home in New Plymouth and helping out anyone calling Primo’s help desk. And in his spare time, he notches up some quality time with computer gaming.

Mount Messenger

Talor Green

Lord of the Pings

Talor Green.

Lord of the Pings.

Talor Green is Primo’s senior network engineer.

He and his family moved to Taranaki from Tauranga, and he brings plenty of expertise from his time working with wireless internet providers on the eastern coast.

Originally from Turangi, Talor’s job at Primo is to make sure everything keeps working. If gear fails, or the weather tries its best to break the network, he’s there to keep it going.

Apart from his internet expertise, he also brought over his wife Eveline and their two daughters and they’ve settled in nicely.

He says as a bit of a tech-head, he enjoys working at Primo.

“The network has been built the right way. And for me, tech wise, this is like a kid going to Disneyland.

“Everything’s next level and Primo’s got all the toys!”

Talor’s Team.

The Primo Network Team.

Hanan Pillette

Systems Administrator

Joshua Cook

Access Network Administrator

Anthony Finnerty

Core routing and Infrastructure Admin

Anthony Finnerty

Core routing and Infrastructure Admin

Anthony Finnerty.

Core routing and Infrastructure Admin.

Anthony joined Primo in 2022 as front of house person, moved through the Customer Success Team and now works on the Network & Systems Team.

With a WITT Diploma in Information Technology, he keeps Primo’s core routing and infrastructure running smoothly and is helping with the fibre rollout.
He loves that every day brings a fresh challenge and the chance to learn.
Anthony and his partner and step-child are based in New Plymouth and have a menagerie of three rescue dogs, two cats, and a co-parented pig.
Weekends are for local tracks around Taranaki. After ticking off the region’s waterfalls, they’re still exploring the trails around the city.

Joshua Cook

Access Network Administrator

Joshua Cook.

The Gigabit Gladiator.

Joshua Cook is part of Primo’s Network & Systems team, working behind the scenes to keep data flowing smoothly across Taranaki.

He started as an installer, using his practical skills and electrical knowledge to connect customers to the wireless network.
As Access Network Administrator, he’s now responsible for mapping network connections and making sure everything fits together.

He also supporting Primo’s expanding fibre rollout. This is giving him new opportunities to boost his technical expertise, building on the online courses he’s done through the likes of LinkedIn Learning.

Joshua enjoys making sure the network runs at its best. And no matter how complicated that gets, it’s probably always easier than helping raise his twin toddlers at home in Stratford.

Matt Harrison elected to the board of TUANZ

Taranaki wireless broadband pioneer Matt Harrison has been elected to the board of TUANZ, the influential tech users industry group.

As one of two new regional members of the board of 10, Harrison says his “somewhat surprising election” reflects the new importance TUANZ is placing on making sure rural New Zealanders are included in its goal of making New Zealand one of the top 10 digital countries worldwide by 2030.

The election has come as a surprise for Harrison, the managing director of Primo. He says he was up against 15 other strong candidates from the telco industry, almost all of whom were from large companies in the main centres. He says being a regional internet provider and an advocate for rural users may have swung the vote his way. “This shows me that there is strong support from the whole industry for what we are doing at Primo in providing connections to rural people who would otherwise miss out on having a quality internet link.”

Harrison and his team at New Plymouth-based Primo have created a wireless network around Taranaki which gives affordable broadband access to many of the remotest farms and communities and now has more than 4500 customers. He says getting people access to the Internet is vital for the whole country and reflects his love of technology and the opportunities it creates.

“I have turned my passion and thirst for bringing new technology and ideas to life while working to close the rural and urban digital divides in Taranaki and I have been a big supporter for this happening all around New Zealand. “We have built literal digital highways into the heartland of Taranaki, and we have seen the very real boost this has given to people.”

Harrison, who lives on a rural property in Lepperton with partner Jasmine and his three young daughters, says he has a good insight into the challenges of getting the internet into rural homes, as well as the many opportunities it offers.

Primo partner with Taranaki Rugby

Primo have thrown their support behind Taranaki Rugby ahead of the 2021 rugby season.

The locally owned and operated Taranaki business has become an Official First XV Partner for 2021 and will have their brand displayed on the upper back of the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls #3 jersey.

Primo were established in 2006 to provide wireless broadband services to remote Taranaki communities who struggled to get access to fast broadband services. They now provide both wireless and ultrafast broadband services to thousands of corporate and rural customers across Taranaki.

Primo is based on Molesworth Street in New Plymouth and has grown to now employ a team of 21 fantastic local staff who know our region like the back of their hand.

Primo Business Manager Kelly Ellis, said the partnership was all about continuing to grow their brand while supporting their region.

“Primo’s whole ethos of giving back comes from the fact that it was our community who firstly gave to us. It was those early adopters, some that even paid for sites to be built themselves, that’s meant we can do what we do now. It seems only right that we Primo It Forward”.

Ellis goes on to say: “It really is a whole of Taranaki team effort and we’re excited to extend our support of grassroots rugby and get behind our Yarrows Taranaki Bulls this season. It’s our dream to take our team of Taranaki to the team of five million so that they too can all enjoy Primo at their place, and seeing our brand on the back of a Yarrows Taranaki Bulls jersey is an exciting step in that direction.”

Taranaki Rugby Commercial Manager Jimmy Fastier was thrilled to have Primo join the Taranaki Rugby family for 2021.

“Primo are a fantastic example of a Taranaki start-up company. They deliver quality broadband solutions to their clients and they are also huge supporters of their local community.”

Primo are strong supporters of the Taranaki community and support over 90 organisations with their own connectivity needs, as well as numerous Free Primo Wi-Fi hotspots including New Plymouth & Hawera hospitals, and the Hawera and Stratford town centres https://primo.nz/info/primo-hotspots-2

Join the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls 2021 membership family and write yourself into our latest chapter by clicking HERE.

To request a call back or to receive more information on Yarrows Taranaki Bulls membership packages click HERE.

Lee Diamond

The Mischievous Monkey

Lee Diamond.

The Mischievous Monkey.

Joining the site build team in February 2021, Lee thinks the best thing about being at Primo is getting to work out in the country and with the people at Primo.

He’s worked outdoors for over 10 years and loves it! In a previous life he was a travelling barista selling his coffees around NZ. Pity he isn’t in the office much, he could make us all coffees!

Being the outdoors guy that he is, he loves his motorbike riding and is an active member in the Triumph Motorcycle Club. He’s a bit of a home mechanic and if he was doing any other job it would be as a motocross rider. He brings with him a wide range of knowledge and skills across the telecommunications, electronics, defence, welding and fabrication sectors.

Born and bred in Taranaki, Lee loves the mountain to surf and the great weather! Just as well seeing as he’s outdoors every day.

Jason Leef

The Customer Care Bear

Jason Leef.

The Customer Care Bear.

You’ll find Jason on the end of our phone or emails supporting our customers with their connections Saturday through to Wednesday every week.

He prides himself on helping customers through the technicalities of their connection in plain English and to get it sorted right the first time.

In his CV Jason said “I lavish the opportunity to work for a local service provider, it has been a long term goal of mine to better myself so that one day I could become apart of a great team who provide meaningful contributions to our local community.” Now that Jason has his foot in the door he says “the best thing about working here has to be the people.

Taranaki is a unique little region, with such diverse people. I work with a great and supportive team. There isn’t a day that goes by in this office without something comical happening.. Its great!” It’s great to have you with us Jason we are lucky to have you.

Jason moved back to New Plymouth 5 years ago from Wellington, and doesn’t miss it. New Plymouth is clean, fresh and cultured. Outside of work he says he just loves to chill with his son or do one of the odd hikes around our cool walkways.

Starfish Group Project Ltd

Starfish is a community focused support agency that empowers young people and their whanau to maximise their potential.

We work with young people and their families to help develop important life skills and resilience so that their future becomes positive.
We offer support and counselling for a wide range of primary mental health care needs, including emotional management, alcohol and substance abuse, and social or family difficulties.

Primo’s sponsorship of Starfish Project means more funding can be put into the actual support needed for a young person, instead of being swallowed up in running and administration costs.
So, more money getting to the front line!

We are extremely grateful for the contribution that Primo makes to the young people of Taranaki.