Hamilton City Council staff investigating how to fund speed cameras

Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Hamilton City Council is investigating whether it can get more speed and safety cameras.

Hamilton could end up paying its own way to get more speed cameras on city roads while national funds are limited.

Council staff have been in talks with NZ Transport Agency officials about how Hamilton could get new cameras.

An update will go before councillors on Thursday, after staff were asked to investigate the full costs and what options the city might have.

There have been ‘ongoing’ discussions about where cameras could go, city council network and systems operations manager Robyn Denton says. However, locations haven’t yet been signalled.

That included whether NZTA would “allow the council to fund cameras if it agreed to cover operational costs; and how the council can best position itself to benefit from any future for speed/safety cameras,’’ a staff report to the council’s City Delivery Committee says.

NZTA appreciates the “proactive approach’’, according to a letter from Waikato and Bay of Plenty regional relationships director Andrew Corkill, which is in the committee meeting agenda documents.

However, the agency has limited funding available for further expansion of the safety camera network for the remainder of the 2024–27 National Land Transport Programme.

“This means that any near-term expansion is constrained, and future growth will need to be carefully prioritised.

NZTA said it is ‘open to locally funded safety cameras being added to the national network in future’.

“While we are open to locally funded safety cameras being added to the national network in future, there are a number of important considerations and steps still underway.’’

HCC has not indicated where speed cameras could be installed but the council’s network and systems operations manager Robyn Denton says this is part on “ongoing’’ discussions at the City Delivery Committee dating back to 2024 (at that time relating to Avalon Drive.)

“The use of safety cameras is nationally governed by NZTA, not local councils. NZTA is still finalising the process for identifying and prioritising locations, so safety cameras are currently not an option for council to implement.’’

However, NZTA has left the door open for council funding, as long as there is “agreement’’ on capital costs (camera installation and supporting infrastructure), ongoing operational costs (including maintenance, monitoring, and system operation).

“These arrangements would need to be confirmed alongside the national guidance and prioritisation approach,’’ Corkill says.

‘’We look forward to continuing to work with Hamilton City Council as this programme develops, and to supporting a joined-up approach to improving road safety outcomes.’’