44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
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F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
30 May 2025
Tyler
[FYI request #31010 email]
REF: OIA-18422
Dear Tyler
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email of 19 May 2025 requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Specifically, I would like to request the following details:
1. Radar Technology: What radar technology or frequency bands are being used in
these mobile units (e.g., K band, Ka band, X band)?
2. Frequency Range: What is the specific frequency range of the technology (e.g., Ka
band 24.700–24.750 GHz)?
3. Equipment Manufacturer: What is the brand or manufacturer of the speed detection
equipment (e.g., Redflex, Jenoptik, etc.)?
4. Detection Range: What is the typical or average detection range of the equipment
(e.g., 200–300 meters)?
5. Operational Mode: Do the radar units operate continuously (i.e., transmitting full-
time), or do they use systems such as “instant-on” or other intermittent activation
methods?
6. Camera Systems: What type of camera systems are paired with the radar
equipment (e.g., license plate recognition, high-definition video)?
7. Evidence Retention: What is the standard evidence retention period for images or
data captured by these systems?
8. Additional Deployment Methods: In addition to vans and SUVs, are there current
plans—or has consideration been given—to deploy trailers, covert/hidden camera
systems, or other less-visible/mobile enforcement methods as part of this rollout?
9. Policy and Purpose: What is the specific operational or policy-driven motive behind
introducing this new generation of mobile speed enforcement units? Please provide
detail beyond general statements such as “to catch speeders” or “to improve road
safety”—for example, is there data showing increased speeding trends, funding priorities,
international alignment, or other driving factors?
I will address each of your questions about mobile safety cameras in turn.
Radar Technology and Frequency Range
The mobile safety cameras operate in the K Band at 24GHz.
Equipment Manufacturer
Acusensus Harmony camera systems are used in mobile safety camera vehicles. The equipment is
authorised for use under the Land Transport (Approved Vehicle Surveillance Equipment) Notice 2025.
The Notice is available online here:
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2025/0055/7.0/whole.html.
Detection Range
The typical detection range of the equipment is 150 metres. The radar is capable of detection up to a
range of 300 metres, depending on its use and installation.
Operational Mode
The radar units are transmitting continuously.
Camera Systems
Mobile camera systems are paired with a high definition still image camera. They do not use high-
definition video and do not use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR).
Evidence Retention
Our website covers the information safety cameras capture, how long we keep the data and who we
share it with. This link also takes you to NZTA’s general privacy statement and the Privacy Impact
Assessment for safety cameras:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/safety-cameras/safety-camera-privacy/information-our-
safety-cameras-capture/
Additional Deployment Methods
We’re operating mobile safety cameras in SUVs now. Later this year we’l also introduce trailers. Our
mobile safety camera will operate anytime and anywhere. However, they will not be hidden.
Information on these vehicles and their deployment is available on our website at:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/safety-cameras/about-safety-cameras/safety-camera-
types/mobile-safety-camera.
NZ Police enforcement using mobile safety cameras in vans will cease from 1 July 2025. The NZ
Police vans will not be used as mobile safety camera vehicles from that date. From 1 July 2025, NZ
Police will also no longer be responsible for enforcement by mobile safety cameras. However, Police
officers will continue on-road enforcement of speed limits.
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Policy and Purpose
This new generation of mobile safety camera enforcement is to encourage compliance with speed
limits, and, whether caused by speed or other factors, to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our
roads. The purpose of safety cameras can be found on our website at the following link:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/safety-cameras/
The development of the current approach to safety cameras is contained in the following links to safety
camera business cases and the Cabinet paper containing the policy decisions taken at the time.
These documents also contain evidence regarding the effectiveness of safety cameras:
-
https://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/OC210903-Cabinet-paper-Tackling-Unsafe-
Speeds-programme-final-policy-decisions-Final-7.pdf (Cabinet Paper)
-
-
https://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Regulatory-Impact-Summary-Tackling-Unsafe-
Speeds-FINALpdf.pdf (Regulatory Impact Statement, see Chapter 3)
-
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/Safety/docs/safety-cameras/tackling-unsafe-speeds-
programme-business-case.pdf (Programme business case)
-
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/Safety/docs/safety-cameras/safety-camera-system-
programme-indicative-business-case-redacted.pdf (Indicative business case)
-
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/About-us/docs/oia-2023/OIA-11944-attachment-3.pdf
(Detailed business case).
Our website also outlines why we use mobile safety cameras as part of range of safety cameras. You
can read about mobile safety cameras here
: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/safety-
cameras/about-safety-cameras/safety-camera-types/mobile-safety-cameras/
In line with NZTA policy, this response will soon be published on our website, with personal
information removed.
If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact Ministerial Services by email to
[NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Jackie Smith
Manager Ministerial Services
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