Auckland Transport's new CCTV system could give city thousands more cameras

Thousands more CCTV cameras could be installed around Auckland in a new Council system.

Auckland Transport (AT) intends to combine most of the city's CCTV cameras into a single system that the police will be able to access in real-time.

AT and Auckland Council currently operate 4500 cameras, which will be combined with the hundreds run by NZTA and other regional facilities like Auckland Zoo and the Museum.

Part of the $4.5m plan involves expanding the number of cameras operating in the city to as many as 8000 in the next five years. AT is about to award a tender to pay for the video management system. 

AT has an agreement with NZ Police that allows them to monitor the CCTV system. The new system would broaden police access to let them watch all feeds in real-time from, eventually, thousands more cameras than are currently operating.

In a statement provided to Newshub, an AT spokesperson said the plan is not to "dramatically increase" CCTV surveillance.

"We are looking to future proof that system by allowing up to 8000 cameras – that does not mean we plan to use that full capability."

The proposal was presented at a public AT board meeting a year ago.

AT cites Auckland's rapid growth and upcoming events like the America's Cup and APEC Summit, both to be hosted by the city in 2021, as proof of the necessity of an increased CCTV system.

"There is opportunity for this significant investment and network of devices to now be leveraged across a number of synergistic agencies, who otherwise would need to undertake their own investment and solutions," AT said in a statement. 

The three new underground train stations set to open in the next five years will also require "possibly hundreds" of cameras, including throughout rail tunnels. 

AT listed London and Toronto as two major cities with a substantial CCTV presence in their respective public transport systems - 15,600 cameras throughout the London Underground and 13,000 on Toronto's transport network. 

Newshub.