Services · Software development
Custom software development in New Zealand
Aotearoa Labs is an independent studio in New Plymouth, Taranaki, run by Benny Cohen. We design and build practical software, from Windows desktop applications to industrial tools and the business systems small organisations rely on, and we ship it ourselves.
What we build
Most custom software starts as a frustration: a spreadsheet that has outgrown itself, a manual job that eats an afternoon, a tool that simply does not exist yet. These are the kinds of software we build, and have already shipped.
- Windows desktop applications. Installed programs that work offline and look after their own data. Aurora Game Booster and the AddVenture maths series are published on the Microsoft Store.
- Industrial and engineering tools. Gandalf Modbus Wizard scans, graphs and simulates Modbus TCP and RTU devices.
- Business tools and quoting systems. For Quality3Ds, our 3D-printing studio in New Plymouth, we built an automatic quoting website: customers upload a model and see an indicative NZD price. Read the case study.
- AI-assisted engineering software. MCP servers that let AI tools drive CAD packages. See AI-assisted CAD and MCP.
Industrial software and Modbus tools
Industrial communications is where a good tool saves hours. Modbus devices rarely announce their settings, so the work is trying baud rate, parity, stop bits and device ID until something answers. Gandalf Modbus Wizard automates that search, then lets you read and write registers, graph values live, watch traffic and simulate a virtual device.
If your equipment needs something purpose-built, such as a particular register map, a logging format or a test rig, we can build to suit.
How a project works
You describe the problem and we ask the awkward questions early: who uses it, what data goes in and out, what it has to connect to and what happens when something goes wrong. We agree a small first version, build it and put it in front of the people who will use it, then improve it from real feedback rather than guesswork.
The person you talk to is the person writing the code, so nothing is lost in a hand-off. We build with modern AI-assisted tooling, which is a large part of why custom software is within reach of small organisations.
Why a small New Zealand studio
We build our own products as well as client work, so we know what it takes to finish software properly: store listings, privacy policies, updates and support. Our apps are built to respect the people using them. AddVenture and AOTEAURORA have no advertising, accounts or analytics.
We are local to Taranaki and work with organisations across New Zealand. Need an app rather than a desktop program? See app development. Need a site? See website design.
Common questions.
Do you only build Windows software?
Windows desktop software is where much of our shipped work lives, but we also build Android apps, websites and web tools. If the right answer is a web page or a phone app rather than a desktop program, we will say so.
Can you build software for equipment that uses Modbus?
Yes. We build and sell our own Modbus tool, Gandalf Modbus Wizard, and can build custom software around Modbus TCP and RTU devices, such as monitoring, logging or test tools.
Where are you based, and do you work outside Taranaki?
Aotearoa Labs is based in New Plymouth, Taranaki, and works remotely with clients around New Zealand.
How do I start a software project?
Email [email protected] with a short description of the problem, who will use the software and what it needs to connect to. We will reply with questions and a suggested first step.
Get in touch
Tell us what you need built.
A short email is enough to start: the problem, who will use the software and what it has to connect to.
Continue exploring Aotearoa Labs
Gandalf Modbus Wizard→
Aurora Game Booster→
App development→