Car lover invents Search and Rescue system

Wellington timber and building hardware merchant Wayne Gazley is a self-described "car fanatic". Of the six vehicles in his garage, pride of place goes to a Mazda RX-8.

"I was driving home one day when it occurred to me how annoyed I would be if the RX-8 went missing," he said.

So Gazley put his thinking cap on and came up with the concept of a vehicle locating service, based on GPS tracking equipment.

That was two years ago. Now, thanks to the input of business partner and software designer Nick Lloyd, "Traking It" is on the market, courtesy of their company, Satellite Tracking Systems.

The system requires a GPS locator to be installed in a hidden location in a customer's vehicle.

But the clever bit, says Gazley, is the web-based software designed by Lloyd.

"By linking the GPS locator via the Vodafone network to our software, we can find your car virtually anywhere in New Zealand," he said.

"If it is parked outside a house we can tell you the number of the house, the street and how it got there."

Apart from the location service, Traking It can be used to immobilise a vehicle, unlock its doors, or automatically text the customer if the vehicle's alarm is activated.

There's even a panic button, which alerts the system's control centre that a vehicle and driver are in trouble.

The centre then tries to contact the customer and, if unsuccessful, tracks the vehicle and contacts police.

"People with vehicles which are valuable or prone to theft are likely to be a big market for Traking It," said Gazley.

"But it can also be tailored for fleet owners who may want to know the whereabouts of their vehicles.

"They may want to keep track of vehicles operating in areas where the security of the driver may be at risk.

"Or, they may want to monitor whether staff are abiding by company vehicle policies like after-hours use, or keeping within an agreed geographic area."

Gazley says the GPS device is checked every two or three days to ensure it is operating correctly. Vehicles are tracked only at customer request.

"We have taken care to create a system which is not unduly intrusive and respects the privacy of our customers."

The GPS hardware fits in the palm of your hand. Gazley recommends that the Tracking It system be installed by an auto electrician, especially if the customer wants all the features it offers.

It retails for around $900 including GST, with installation extra. Monitoring costs an additional $1 a day.

There's also a cheaper system for fleet owners who want tracking only and none of the other features.

"The hardware and software is improving all the time," Gazley says.

"Before long we'll be able to provide customers with GPS navigation as part of their package.

"They will also be able to log on to the web and track their own vehicle movements.

"As for now, I feel a lot safer knowing that in an emergency I have access to a panic button, and, if my vehicle is interfered with or stolen, I will know within minutes and be able to tell the police exactly where it is."