Invercargill council’s CCTV roll-out complete with 68 cameras

Thursday, 3 April 2025

The Invercargill City Council now has 68 video surveillance cameras monitoring the city’s central business district, South City and Stirling Point areas.

It also has protocols to work with police regarding use of the high-resolution, round-the-clock footage to address criminal activity.

The council committed $2.3 million to investigate and install cameras across parts of the city and Bluff after requests from the community and police.

This represents much more clear-eyed and extensive coverage than the small network that previously existed, with its indistinct images.

The footage will be recorded and kept for three months.

Police will be able to view a live feed but would need to request footage as needed, council infrastructure group manager Erin Moogan said.

The council had a dedicated process in place to “ensure the integrity and security of the data”, she said.

“We’ve heard what the community has been saying, and I’m pleased that we have now delivered this project to offer peace of mind to not only those who life here, but visitors to our city as well,” she said.

“Safe public spaces increase the quality of life for our community members as well as supporting local business through local spending.”

Inspector Mike Bowman, Southland’s area commander, said police hoped the presence of the cameras would give the community some added reassurance that they would actively deter criminal activity.

It had been “a fantastic collaboration” between police and the city council, he said.