About Me – David Awatere, Founder of CicadaVPN

Kia ora, friends! I’m David Awatere, founder of CicadaVPN, and today I’d like to share a bit about my journey—from my roots in New Zealand to leading large-scale projects and eventually building a VPN service with my family.

The Whakapapa: My Māori Heritage

I’m Māori from the tribe Ngāti Porou, with my marae being at Mangahanea in Ruatoria, New Zealand, and with a whare nui named Hinetapora. My connection to Ruatoria, where my father Willemu Awatere was born to Hori and Tepora Awatere, is central to my identity. My father now rests in the urupā near Ruatoria, and I carry the strength of my ancestors with me everywhere I go.

My grandfather, Hori, was a cousin of Arapeta Awatere, who led the renowned 28th Māori Battalion during World War II. The battalion, known for their skill and bravery, fought in key battles such as El Alamein and Monte Cassino. Being part of this legacy is something I deeply treasure.

Family First: Husband and Dad

I’m a proud husband to my incredible wife, Cathy, and dad to two brilliant daughters, Bethany and Sophie. Both recently graduated from Auckland University—one in Law, the other in Commerce. Cathy, who holds a degree in marketing and politics, has been the strategic powerhouse behind many aspects of CicadaVPN. Together, our family has been at the heart of this journey.

From the Air Force to the Internet

My career began in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), where I served from 1991 to 1995 with 75 Squadron A4Ks—kia kaha, ake ake! I completed two deployments—Operation Vanguard in Thailand and Operation Starfish in Malaysia—as an avionics engineer. In 1995, I discovered the internet and immediately knew it was the future. I resigned from the RNZAF and transitioned into the tech industry.

The CCIE Journey: Becoming a Networking Expert

Early in my tech career, my first CEO advised me to pursue the CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) certification. It’s a notoriously tough exam—rumor has it the practical exam is the same one NSA engineers must pass! After a failed first attempt, I passed on my second try in Sydney, earning CCIE #6844 in routing and switching. Later, I recertified in security, and after 10 years, Cisco awarded me emeritus status—a testament to my long-standing expertise in networking.

Why VPN?

As a security engineer, my focus has always been on preventing unwanted actors from accessing areas they shouldn’t and circumventing security protections. VPN technology is something I’m incredibly comfortable with. Beyond the tech, I’m also familiar with government policies, particularly within the 5 Eyes network, where national telecoms companies must comply with legal mandates that often impact privacy. Having worked in various product roles, I understand the trade-offs companies make between legal requirements and commercial interests.

The core philosophy I’ve carried throughout my career is to always put the customer first. Start with the customer’s problem and let that guide your decisions. If something doesn’t help your customer (and you’re acting legally), don’t do it. That’s the foundation of CicadaVPN, which is designed to give people back control over their privacy in a world that’s increasingly monitored.

Leading the UFB Project: A Career Highlight

From 2011 to 2023, I worked on New Zealand’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) project, starting in a technical role and transitioning to Engineering Program Manager at Crown Fibre Holdings (CFH), which later became Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP). This role spanned many aspects of the business, requiring a broad range of skills and perspectives. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys operating at the intersection of technology and leadership.

Our team of 20—engineers, lawyers, and PR professionals, many of whom had worked as executives at Telecom NZ—helped roll out fiber across much of New Zealand, later expanding into rural broadband. The project exceeded all expectations, gaining recognition from both sides of the political spectrum, including praise from John Key and Jacinda Ardern. It was a truly rewarding experience to help connect Kiwis across the country.

Sabbatical… and Then CicadaVPN

After completing the UFB project, I decided to take a sabbatical and moved to Spain to enjoy some downtime. However, with the support of Cathy and our daughters, I soon found myself back at work, and together, we created CicadaVPN. It’s been a true family effort, combining our skills and passions to build something meaningful.

Why CicadaVPN?

CicadaVPN is about more than just privacy protection—it’s about empowering people to take control of their digital rights. Like the cicada, which gains strength when its chorus grows louder, we believe in the power of collective action to safeguard online freedom. Cathy’s strategic insight has been key to guiding our direction, and we’ve built a product we’re incredibly proud of.

If you’d like to connect or learn more about my career, feel free to visit my LinkedIn profile: David Awatere on LinkedIn.

Thanks for reading my story. I look forward to sharing more as CicadaVPN continues to grow.

Ngā mihi,
David Awatere
Founder of CicadaVPN