Introducing Oricom to New Zealand's Marine Industry: VHF Radios, UHF CB and Reversing Cameras

New to New Zealand: the Oricom marine range, distributed here by Absolute Marine and available now from Action Outdoors.

Every boatie knows the feeling — the forecast turns, the swell builds, and suddenly the only piece of gear that really matters is the one that lets you call for help. Marine communications are not an accessory. They are safety equipment, and they need to work when everything else is wet, cold and moving.

That is exactly the gap the Oricom range fills. Newly distributed in New Zealand by Absolute Marine, Oricom builds VHF and UHF radios engineered for the harshest ocean conditions — and prices them well below what Kiwi boaties are used to paying for equipment of this standard.

Browse the full VHF marine radio range →

Why buy Oricom?

🌊 Float-and-flash recovery

Drop a handheld overboard and most radios are gone. The Oricom handheld doesn't sink — it floats straight back to the surface and an auto-activating LED starts flashing immediately. Retrieval is straightforward even at night or in low light. If you have ever watched a radio disappear into the green, you will understand why this one feature sells the unit.

🔊 Vibration water-draining technology

Water sitting on a speaker cone muffles and distorts sound — which is worst at exactly the moment you need to hear a transmission clearly. Oricom models use an acoustic vibration function that runs ultrasonic frequencies to shake and purge water out of the speaker grille, restoring clear audio instantly.

🛠️ IP67 ingress protection

The core radios are rated IP67: completely dust-tight, and able to survive full immersion in up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes. Spray, rain, a wave over the bow, a dunk in the bilge — none of it is a problem.

🔋 Real battery life

The handhelds run high-capacity Li-ion batteries giving up to 8 hours of active runtime, with smart power-save modes to stretch that out across a long day or an overnight trip.

Fixed-mount VHF: the boat's primary radio

If you head offshore, a fixed-mount VHF with DSC is the backbone of your safety kit. It has more transmit power than a handheld, a proper antenna up high, and a distress button wired to your position.

• VHF DSC (Class D) Fixed Mount Marine Radio IP67 — the top-selling Oricom MX1000. A high-performance fixed-mount VHF and an essential addition to your on-water safety equipment. Available in black and white. From $355 incl. GST.
• 1.8m VHF detachable whip — fully detachable, pre-tuned, UV-stable fibreglass. Black or white. From $75 incl. GST.
• Double swivel base + lead — fits the MDW series whips, black or white. From $75 incl. GST.

Fit the radio, base and whip together and you have a complete, properly matched installation rather than a mismatched collection of parts.

Handheld VHF: backup, tender and kayak radio

• Oricom VHF 5W Marine Portable IP67 — full 5 watts, IP67 sealed, an essential addition to your on-water safety kit. $295 incl. GST.
• VHF 3W Marine Portable IPX7 — the compact option in black. From $195 incl. GST.

A handheld is the radio that goes with you — in the tender, on the kayak, clipped to a lifejacket, or in the grab bag. It is also the one that keeps working when the boat's power doesn't.

UHF CB: for the trip there and back

5 Watt IP67 Waterproof Handheld UHF CB Radio — featuring one of the largest backlit LCD displays available in a handheld radio. From $295 incl. GST. Ideal for convoy work, launching and retrieving, farm and forestry tracks, and anywhere out of cellphone coverage.

Reversing cameras: launching without the guesswork

Backing a trailer down a busy ramp is where most boat-day arguments start. Oricom's wireless cameras remove the guesswork — and neither needs a wiring loom run through the vehicle.

• Oricom Solar Powered Wireless Reverse Camera (WRCSP) — reverse with confidence, solar powered, no charging routine to remember. From $355 incl. GST.
• Rechargeable Wi-Fi Reversing Camera — see behind your vehicle instantly, with no installation required. From $295 incl. GST.

How Oricom compares

GME and Uniden have been the default names on New Zealand dashboards for years, and both make good gear. Oricom's argument is simple: the same core protection standards and safety features — IP67 sealing, DSC on the fixed mount, floating handhelds with strobe — at a keener price, backed by a New Zealand distributor in Absolute Marine rather than a grey import.

A quick word on the rules

Maritime New Zealand recommends two independent forms of waterproof communication on every trip — a VHF radio and a second device such as a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch, a distress beacon or a second handheld. Marine VHF operators should hold a Maritime Radio Operator Certificate, and channel 16 is monitored for distress. Always log a trip report with Coastguard before you head out.

Get set up

The full Oricom range is available now through Action Outdoors. Stock ships directly from our New Zealand supplier.

Shop VHF marine radios →

Not sure which combination suits your boat? Get in touch and we will spec the radio, base and whip to match how and where you fish.

Prices shown include GST and are correct at time of publication. Action Outdoors Limited, 348 Rosebank Road, Avondale, Auckland.