Vandals Chop Down Hawke’s Bay Speed Cameras Weeks Before Go-Live Date
Hawke’s Bay’s first set of average speed safety cameras on State Highway 2 were chopped down by vandals just weeks before they were scheduled to begin operating, forcing the New Zealand Transport Agency to weigh new security measures, 1News reported. The deliberate damage has delayed the activation of the cameras from September 29 to around mid-to-late November while repair work takes place.
The cameras, positioned between Te Hauke and Pakipaki south of Hastings, were targeted when the metal arms attaching the hardware to their poles were severed. NZTA head of driving regulation Chris Rodley told 1News that authorities subsequently recovered one of the stolen cameras. A New Zealand Police spokesperson confirmed that authorities received a report regarding damage to two cameras on State Highway 2—specifically in the Pakipaki area and near Ōtāne—on September 7. Police investigations into the vandalism remain underway.
State Highway 2 Safety Risks and Speed Survey Data
Transport officials selected the Te Hauke to Pakipaki corridor for the average speed monitoring equipment due to severe crash histories. Rodley stated that this specific stretch of State Highway 2 carries a high risk of fatal and serious injury collisions, driven by traffic volumes, crash types, and prevailing driver behavior. An NZTA speed survey conducted along the route in July 2025 revealed that roughly 16% of motorists exceeded the legal limit.
International safety data cited by the transport agency indicates that average-speed safety systems can cut deaths and serious injuries on appropriate corridors by approximately 48%. Unlike traditional fixed units that snap speeds at a single point, average-speed cameras calculate a vehicle’s travel time across a measured length of roadway. Motorists receive tickets only if their overall average speed between the monitoring points exceeds the posted limit.
The Hawke’s Bay destruction fits into a broader pattern of attacks against automated traffic enforcement equipment nationwide. Over the past year, New Zealand’s fleet of mobile speed camera trailers has sustained 18 separate vandalism incidents since deployment. Earlier in September, a separate average-speed camera installation in Redvale, north of Auckland, was similarly chopped down at its base as part of the ongoing wave of property damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do average-speed cameras calculate vehicle speeds?
Average-speed safety cameras measure the exact amount of time it takes a vehicle to travel between two or more designated points along a stretch of road. Drivers are ticketed only if their calculated average speed across the entire monitored section exceeds the legal limit, meaning brief moments of speeding between the cameras do not trigger a violation, according to NZTA.
What are the alternative reporting options for witnesses with information?
Police have asked anyone possessing information regarding the damaged State Highway 2 cameras to contact authorities directly by calling 105, or to submit anonymous tips through Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
When is the nationwide speed camera rollout scheduled to finish?
The government’s broader rollout of sign-posted speed cameras, intended to encourage drivers to adhere to speed limits, was scheduled for completion by June 2025.
Worth a look