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Kiwi Smart Tech

Smart home and DIY tech for everyday Kiwis.

Kia ora, I am Steve. After 30 years in tech and a lot of tinkering with smart homes and homelabs, I started Kiwi Smart Tech to share what actually works in a real New Zealand home.

Smart Home DIY Projects Homelab NZ Friendly Gear
I am building this project alongside normal work and family life, so the content will grow steadily over time.

Pillars of Kiwi Smart Tech

Smart home basics

Start your smart home the right way

Clear, beginner friendly guidance on hubs, lights, sensors, switches, and the platforms that work well in NZ. Less guessing. More doing.

DIY and presence

Projects you can actually build

ESP based presence sensors, garage door control, presence lighting, and other projects that are explained step by step without the fluff.

Homelab and networking

Safe and reliable foundations

Practical homelab and networking setups, including AdGuard, VPN or ZTNA style access, and ways to protect your family from the worst of the internet.

Reviews for NZ

Gear that works here

Honest reviews that focus on NZ pricing, availability, and reliability. I care about local control, privacy, and long term value more than shiny marketing.

Why I started Kiwi Smart Tech

Most New Zealanders only see the big name smart home brands in department stores and assume that is the whole market. The reality is very different. There are plenty of good options that are affordable, flexible, and NZ friendly, but they are hard to find and even harder to compare.

I have gone down the easy road and the hard road. The hard road usually comes with a fair bit of frustration, but it also brings the lessons that are worth sharing. This site and the YouTube channel are my way of turning those lessons into something useful for other people who are just trying to build a smarter home without breaking the bank.

For brands and suppliers

Want your products in front of NZ smart home buyers?

I focus on real world testing in a New Zealand home and plain language reviews that explain what is good, what is not, and who a product is actually suited for.

  • Coverage for smart home, DIY, networking, and homelab products.
  • Focus on NZ pricing, availability, and reliability.
  • Attention to privacy, local control, and long term use.

If you would like to discuss reviews, testing, or product announcements, you are welcome to email me at info @ Kiwi Smart Tech.

What is coming next

I am starting with a small set of core guides and reviews, then building from there. New content and videos will roll out as time allows, including NZ focused buyer guides, deep dives into selected devices, and more DIY projects you can adapt for your own home.

If you want to keep an eye on things as they grow, subscribing on YouTube is the best place to start right now.