The first speed camera-equipped trailer is due to start operating on the streets of Auckland today, marking the latest addition to New Zealand’s road safety network.
The trailers were among several additions from NZTA, which took over responsibility for speed cameras from police in July, becoming the sole operator of the equipment.
Police will still issue notices for any road offences they detect.
Since the handover, NZTA has rolled out a range of new tools across New Zealand’s roads, which include camera-equipped SUVs and trailers as well as new average speed cameras.
Here’s a rundown of NZTA’s latest safety additions to New Zealand’s roads:
SUVs and trailers
In May, the agency introduced its first SUVs carrying speed cameras to roadsides across the country. The first trailer carrying a speed camera is due to hit the roadsides of Auckland today.
The nondescript vehicles and trailers were parked in visible positions on the sides of roads, monitoring drivers.
As of yesterday, 34 mobile cameras were operating out of SUVs – parking up in areas where there was a risk of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes.
Eventually there would be 10 trailers with cameras on them.
Both would be deployed on an “anytime, anywhere” basis with locations based on factors like crash data and feedback from communities.
The cameras had a range of 300m, and were not signposted. They could detect speeding vehicles that were travelling both towards and away from them. Both the SUVs and trailers used the same camera technology.
An NZTA spokesperson said the reason why mobile cameras were unsigned was that evidence suggested they were twice as effective at reducing crashes compared with those that were signed.
In May, NZTA head of regulatory strategic programmes Tara Macmillan said the mobile cameras would save lives.
“Speeding drivers can cause serious and irreparable harm on the roads, including deaths and serious injuries.
“Evidence shows that we can reduce the chance of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes if drivers travel within speed limits, and that is why we have safety cameras.”
Both SUVs and trailers were equipped with security and tracking systems, including CCTV cameras and alarm systems. They were monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
NZTA would not receive any funds from tickets, with revenue made from infringement fees going into the Government’s Consolidated Fund.
New average speed cameras
Alongside the mobile cameras, new average speed cameras were being installed by NZTA across several stretches of road.
The technology utilises two cameras, working in tandem to measure drivers’ average speed as they travel between them.
Drivers could only be ticketed if their average travel speed over the entire distance was over the limit.
“They aren’t ‘pinged’ by a single camera or at a single point where they are over the speed limit,” NZTA said.
NZTA Auckland and Northland director of regional relationships, Steve Mutton, said average speed safety cameras were more effective at reducing deaths or serious injuries than traditional speed cameras New Zealand has used.
“We expect they will reduce deaths and serious injuries by around 48%.
“Safety cameras will reduce speeding, ensuring that if crashes do happen, the people involved are far more likely to walk away unharmed.”
As of July, roads with average speed cameras were being constructed in Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato.
Other speed cameras
In early 2024, NZTA said it was focusing on establishing a speed and red light operation to support up to 200 cameras.
By 2030, it looked to expand the camera fleet to 800.
The first camera solely operated by NZTA went live on State Highway 1 between Kawakawa and Moerewa in Northland in June 2024.
While NZTA was in charge of the cameras, police officers would continue to ticket drivers when they spotted offences.
According to the Ministry of Transport, a total of 209 people have been killed on New Zealand’s roads in 2025 so far.
