Average-speed camera zones confirmed for Twizel-Tekapō highway

Wednesday, 5 November 2025

The sites for the two sets of safety cameras on State Highway 8 between Twizel and Lake Tekapo.

Special cameras will be used to target motorists who exceed the average speed limit between set distances on a South Canterbury alpine highway that is popular with tourists.

Four cameras, which will be used to determine the average speeds of motorists on State Highway 8 between Twizel and Lake Tekapō, were announced by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) on Wednesday.

They are two of six new locations announced to target motorists with the technology and will go with 11 previously announced.

Average-speed cameras work by calculating a vehicle’s average speed along a length of road between two cameras.

The cameras measure the time a vehicle takes to travel between the cameras and calculate the average speed. Drivers are ticketed if their average travel speed between two cameras exceeds the limit.

The locations of the average speed (point to point) safety cameras across the South Island.

“Average-speed safety cameras are widely used overseas, and they are proven to reduce deaths and serious injuries,” Tara Macmillan, NZTA’s head of regulatory strategic programmes, said.

A construction date for the Twizel-Tekapō cameras has not been confirmed, but enforcement was likely to start later in 2026.

The new locations are: SH6 Kingston to SH97 Five Rivers (Southland); SH8 Lake Tekapō to Twizel (South Canterbury); SH1 Allanton to Waihola (Otago); SH2 Te Mārua to Brown Owl (Wellington); SH2 Te Hauke to Pakipaki (Hawke’s Bay); and SH1 Sanson to Foxton (Manawatū-Whanganui).

Macmillan said the locations had been determined by analysing crash patterns, traffic volumes and the percentage of drivers exceeding posted speed limits.

The speed survey on the Twizel-Lake Tekapō section showed 19% of motorists were exceeding the 100kph limit.

A photo from inside a police car showing the speed of a vehicle stopped on State Highway 8 in September this year.

Statistics from the Ministry of Transport showed SH8, through the Mackenzie Country where the Twizel to Lake Tekapō segment would sit, had the highest percentage of crashes involving foreign tourists from 2013 to 2019.

Parts of SH8 have led to the highway being dubbed one of New Zealand’s most dangerous roads, and high-profile crashes include a triple fatality near Lake Tekapō at Easter 2024.

“All of this evidence tells us that there is a serious risk of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes on these stretches of road,” Macmillan said.

“The risk of crashes is significantly reduced if more people drive to the speed limit.”

Macmillan said installation of the cameras would make these roads safer for all users.

“Safety cameras reduce speeding, making crashes less likely to occur, and ensure that if crashes do happen, the people involved are far more likely to walk away unharmed.

“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.

“Not only are speeding drivers putting themselves and others at risk, they also make our roads less efficient and hinder productivity.”

Macmillan said crashes could close a road for hours at a time.

“Fewer crashes mean fewer road closures and more consistent and reliable travel times for everyone.”

NZTA would install “average speed camera area’’ signs before each camera area. On longer stretches of road (corridors), drivers would see extra remindersigns.

The transport agency does not receive any incentives or funds from tickets issued. Safety camera infringement fees go into the central government consolidated fund.

NZTA has been responsible for the operation of all safety cameras since July 1.