Everyone builds a smart home in their own way. Some people start with a smart bulb and grow from there. Others start with Home Assistant running on a RaspberryPi or NUC and slowly wire in more devices. There is no wrong order. What matters is choosing a path that feels comfortable for you.
This page explains the three main pathways you will see across Kiwi Smart Tech. Each one has the same goal. The difference is how deeply you want to get involved.
The Beginner Pathway #
Perfect if you want:
- simple wins
- clear steps
- no complicated setups
- gear that just works
Good starting points:
- Smart plugs to control lamps or appliances
- Motion sensors for hallways
- Smart speakers or voice control
- Basic lighting automations
- A small starter kit from the Gear section
This path focuses on cloud based systems like Apple Home, Google Home, and maybe Tuya or similar. They are easy to set up, easy to reset, and easy to grow slowly.
If this describes you, start with:
- What is a Smart Home?
- How to Use This Site
- Choosing your ecosystem (coming soon)
The Intermediate Pathway #
Choose this path if you:
- want things to be more reliable
- are ready to understand your network
- want devices to respond faster
- like a bit of tinkering but not too much
This path introduces:
- Zigbee and other local protocols
- A stronger router and better Wi-Fi
- More structured automation logic
- Home Assistant on simple hardware
- Better presence detection
- Cleaner device naming and organisation
This path is where most Kiwi homes end up. It balances power and simplicity.
Good next steps:
- Visit the Fundamentals section
- Explore Zigbee basics (coming soon)
- Try Home Assistant Basics in the Guides section
The Advanced Pathway #
Choose this path if you:
- enjoy tinkering
- want everything to run locally
- are comfortable with VLANs and network design
- like dashboards, scripts, and integrations
- want smart home logic that works even if the internet goes down
This pathway focuses on:
- Home Assistant running on dedicated hardware
- Local Zigbee and Thread networks
- Self hosted tools and dashboards
- Advanced presence detection
- Network segmentation for reliability
- Automations that run entirely within your home
If this sounds like you, you will naturally spend more time in:
- Fundamentals
- Guides
- My Setup
- Reviews for advanced devices
How to choose a pathway #
Ask yourself:
- Do you want something simple or flexible?
- Do you prefer plug and play or building your own setup?
- Do you want to avoid tinkering, or is tinkering half the fun?
- Do you prefer cloud based systems or local control?
- Do you already have Apple, Google, or Amazon devices at home?
Your answers will point you in the right direction.
Most readers naturally shift over time:
- Beginner → Intermediate as confidence grows
- Intermediate → Advanced if they get curious
- Advanced → more refined versions of their setup
There is no rush. There is no pressure. Just take the path that feels right.
Try this next #
- Read Choosing Your Smart Home Ecosystem
- Visit the Fundamentals section for strong basics
- Check the Gear section for practical recommendations
- Explore Reviews to see what actually works in NZ homes
- Browse Guides for step by step walkthroughs
