New CCTV cameras installed in Waikato District hotspots
Wednesday 23 September 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated 
Fifteen new CCTV cameras have been activated in areas known for vandalism and boy racing across the Waikato District. Waikato police are already using the footage to assist with investigations. The council has indicated that more cameras may be installed if funding becomes available.
Key facts
4 facts
- 15 CCTV cameras installed in Waikato District hotspots
- Total installation cost was $763,500
- Council funded $278,600 and Government provided $484,900
- Cameras became operational in early September 2026
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
Fifteen new CCTV cameras are now operational in hotspots across the Waikato District to assist with police investigations. The cameras, which include automatic number plate recognition technology, became active in early September. Police have already requested footage from the system to aid their work.
The installation cost a total of $763,500, with the council contributing $278,600 and the central Government providing $484,900 through the Better Off Funding programme. Pōkeno has the highest number of cameras with three. Meremere, Te Kauwhata, Huntly, and Ngāruawāhia each have two cameras, while Tūākau, Te Kōwhai, Raglan, and Taupiri have one each.
Waikato District Mayor Aksel Bech stated that the cameras are a tool for police and that the council does not have access to the video. He noted, “It goes straight to their monitoring centre so they can see it in real time... it’s not like a big room with screens where someone sits and watches”.
High-risk areas were selected using crime data, police feedback, community consultation, and location characteristics such as traffic volumes and entry routes. Mayor Bech suggested that while the cameras provide preventative value, they are not a "silver bullet" and may simply shift problems elsewhere.
Compiled from reports by Waikato Times, NZ Herald and 1News.