50 Victoria Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
12 September 2022
Oscar
[FYI request #20226 email]
[email address]
REF: OIA-10769 and OIA-10770
Dear Oscar
Requests made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your emails
of 15 August 2022 requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
I request the following in regards to smart speed cameras throughout New Zealand.
1. Documents released as referenced in the article linked below.
2. How many are in planning.
3. Locations of all planned smart speed camera locations (both point a and b of the camera).
4. Any documents/plans in relation to issuing demerit points from a speed camera.
5. Estimated
profits.
In a separate email, also of 15 August 2022, you requested the following:
6. the location of each of your 2000+ traffic management cameras located through New
Zealand.
I will answer both requests in this response. I have numbered each part of your request/s for
convenience and will address each part in turn.
1. Documents released as referenced in the article linked below.
The documents you have requested are publicly available under the
Tolling back office system and
safety camera system response on the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency website here:
www.nzta.govt.nz/about-us/official-information-act/media-official-information-act-oia-responses/
I am therefore refusing this part of your request under section 18(d) of the Act because the information
you have requested is already publicly available.
2. How many are in planning.
While indicative only, as outlined in the Road to Zero Action Plan 2020-22, the first phase of safety
camera investment could include the roll out of approximately 100 additional cameras, including a
range of different types of cameras, for example, average speed, mobile, red light and fixed cameras.
You can find the action plan here: www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Report/Road-to-Zero-Action-
Plan_Final.pdf.
No decisions have been made about how many cameras might be rolled out beyond the first phase. A
number of scenarios have been considered, and these scenarios continue to be revised as new
information comes to hand. I am therefore withholding the number of safety cameras considered under
these scenarios under section 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs
through the protection of free and frank expressions of opinion.
With respect to the information that has been withheld, I do not consider there are any other factors
which would render it desirable, in the public interest, to make the information available.
You can find out more about Waka Kotahi safety cameras (including those yet to be transferred from
NZ Police) at the following link: www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/partners/speed-and-infrastructure/safety-
cameras/
3. Locations of all planned smart speed camera locations (both point a and b of the camera).
A decision has not been made about the future coverage of ‘smart speed’ cameras, also known as
average speed or point to point cameras, and so no locations have been confirmed.
I am therefore refusing this part of your request under section 18(g)(i) of the Act as the information you
have requested is not held by Waka Kotahi, and I have no grounds for believing that the information is
held by another department or Minister of the Crown or organisation, or by a local authority.
4. Any documents/plans in relation to issuing demerit points from a speed camera.
Te Manatū Waka – Ministry of Transport is currently carrying out the Road Safety Penalties Review as
part of the Road to Zero Action Plan 2020-22 which includes plans to consult on changes to the demerit
system. This part of your request has been transferred to Te Manatū Waka for reply as it aligns more
closely with its functions.
5. Estimated
profits.
There are no profits estimated. Infringement fees that would be generated from safety cameras would
go into the Crown’s Consolidated Fund, not to Waka Kotahi. We have not made any estimates of fee
revenue in the Safety Camera System Indicative Business Case and have no plans to do so.
The financial benefits in the Safety Camera System Indicative Business Case refer to the monetised
benefits of reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
I am therefore refusing this part of your request under section 18(g)(i) of the Act as the information
requested is not held by Waka Kotahi and I have no grounds for believing that the information is held
by another department or Minister of the Crown or organisation, or by a local authority.
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6. the location of each of your 2000+ traffic management cameras located through New
Zealand.
Waka Kotahi currently operates 1,405 traffic management cameras across New Zealand. This figure
does not include cameras used for enforcement purposes, those used in the safety camera trial or
those yet to be transferred over from the NZ Police.
The following document falls within the scope of this part of your request and is enclosed:
Attachment 1: Waka Kotahi traffic management camera list Aug 2022.xlsx
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to refuse
parts of this request and withhold some information. The contact details for the Ombudsman can be
located at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
Te Manatū Waka - Ministry of Transport recently consulted on the Regulatory System (Transport)
Amendment Bill (RSTA2) which includes measures to support the operation of average speed
cameras. You can find more information on the Bill here: consult.transport.govt.nz/policy/te-
whakahounga-o-te-pire-tiaki-ture-t-nuku-land/
Whilst the implementation of new safety cameras has not yet been detailed, we would not expect to
begin operating average speed cameras without providing advance notice to road users of
enforcement commencing or raising public awareness of what the technology is and how it works.
If you would like to discuss this reply with Waka Kotahi, please contact Richard Stewart, Programme
Director Automated Compliance, by email to [email address].
Yours sincerely
Fabian Marsh
Senior Manager, Road Safety
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