New speed camera on SH1 found ablaze after being pulled from the ground
Monday, 4 May 2026
A new average speed camera, installed just a week ago, was deliberately targeted in an early morning attack south of Dunedin.
The camera, located on State Highway 1 on the Allanton Waihola Rd, was found on fire after it had been unbolted and knocked over, on Saturday at 2.40am, acting Senior Sergeant Iain Notman said.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand believed that the blaze was due to the speed camera short circuiting, after it was knocked over, he said.
“At this stage not a suspected arson, but a very expensive wilful damage to some quite, new technology.”
Specialist scene of crime staff examined the scene, and an investigation was ongoing.
NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi head of driving regulation Chris Rodley said the agency was aware of the damage to one of its safety cameras.
He noted that intentional vandalism of NZTA property is a criminal offence, with the incident reported to police.
The camera in question was an average speed camera that was installed in the past week but not yet in operation.
The agency had secured the site and were working to repair the camera and pole.
“Vandalism of safety cameras is not only extremely disappointing and costly, it puts road users at risk,” Rodley said.
Rodley said the risk of crashes was significantly reduced if more people drive to the speed limit.
“By installing average speed safety cameras, we are reducing that risk and making these roads safer for everyone who uses them.”
The Waihola-Allanton camera was one of 19 average camera sites around the country.
Average speed cameras check how fast a vehicle was driving along a stretch of road, by calculating a vehicle’s speed between two cameras.
Here’s how they work:
Two or more cameras are set up along a road, some distance apart.
When your vehicle passes the first camera it records the time.
When you pass a second camera it records the time again.
It is then calculated how long it took you to travel between the cameras (distance divided by time), which is your average speed.
If that average speed was over the speed limit,a motorist may get a speeding ticket.
In the first four months since the first set of average speed safety cameras in New Zealand began enforcement, compliance with the 80km/h speed limit at the site increased from 88% to more than 99%.