Speed Cameras in Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay

The Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay regions are both getting major speed camera upgrades in 2026. New average speed camera corridors on SH2 at Matata and SH5 at Tumunui in the Bay of Plenty, and on SH2 between Te Hauke and Pakipaki in Hawke's Bay, make up the biggest expansion of fixed camera infrastructure in these regions in years. For Hawke's Bay in particular, the Te Hauke-Pakipaki installation will be the first fixed speed camera in the region in nearly a decade.

This guide covers the current camera network across both regions, what's changing in 2026, and what drivers need to know.

Bay of Plenty: Camera Overview

The Bay of Plenty stretches from Waihi Beach in the west to Cape Runaway in the east, encompassing Tauranga (New Zealand's fifth-largest city), Mount Maunganui, Rotorua, Whakatane, and the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The region attracts heavy tourist traffic, particularly during summer, adding to the demands on an already busy road network.

Crash Statistics

In 2024, 37 people died on roads in the Bay of Plenty police district, one more than in 2023. In 2025, the toll dropped slightly to 33 deaths. Taupo consistently has among the highest death counts within the district, followed by Rotorua.

The leading cause of death and serious injury on Bay of Plenty roads is vehicles crossing the centre line or leaving the road. That's the same pattern seen across most of rural New Zealand. And these are exactly the types of crashes where speed is a critical factor in determining outcomes.

Existing Camera Locations

The Bay of Plenty has existing fixed speed cameras at several locations, including on SH2 near Otamarakau. Mobile cameras operate across the region, deployed to locations identified through crash data and speed analysis.

Tauranga, despite being a major city, has historically had fewer fixed cameras than some other urban centres. Congestion on much of Tauranga's road network (particularly the approaches to Mount Maunganui and the SH2 corridor through the city) means that speeding is less of an issue in the urban area simply because traffic volumes keep speeds down during peak periods.

For all current Bay of Plenty camera locations, use our interactive map.

SH2 Matata: New Average Speed Cameras (2026)

One of the most important camera installations in the Bay of Plenty for 2026 is the average speed camera corridor on SH2 (Pacific Coast Highway) between Otamarakau and Matata.

The Route

This section of SH2 runs along the Bay of Plenty coast between the western Bay of Plenty and Whakatane. It's a two-lane highway with a speed limit that reflects the road geometry and surrounding land use. The road passes through areas with residential properties, intersections, and coastal terrain.

Why This Location

A June 2024 NZTA speed survey on this stretch found that roughly 47% of drivers were speeding. When nearly half of all traffic is exceeding the limit, crash risk goes up sharply. The route has a documented history of serious and fatal crashes.

Installation Details

Construction on the SH2 Matata average speed cameras was announced to begin in mid-2026, with work expected to take three to four weeks. The existing safety camera near Otamarakau on SH2 will be converted to an average speed camera, with a second camera installed to create the point-to-point corridor. One camera will be installed near Herepuru Road (by Murphy's Holiday Camp), forming the paired system.

What Drivers Should Know

Once operational, drivers travelling this section of SH2 will need to keep their speed at or below the posted limit for the entire corridor. The cameras calculate average speed between the two points, so slowing down for one camera and speeding up afterwards won't help.

SH5 Tumunui: New Average Speed Cameras (2026)

The second Bay of Plenty average speed camera installation is on SH5 (Thermal Explorer Highway) at Tumunui, south of Rotorua.

The Route

SH5 runs from Rotorua southward toward Taupo, passing through the volcanic plateau. The Tumunui section is a rural two-lane highway with a 100 km/h speed limit. The road passes through an area with geothermal features and relatively sparse development.

Camera Locations

One camera will be installed at approximately 126 Thermal Explorer Highway (at the Rotorua end) and the other near 2028 Thermal Explorer Highway near Waimangu. These two points create a corridor over which average speed will be measured.

The locations were selected based on crash patterns, traffic volumes, and the number of drivers exceeding the speed limit. Like all average speed camera sites, the goal is sustained compliance over the entire corridor rather than point-based enforcement.

Tourist Considerations

SH5 between Rotorua and Taupo is a popular tourist route, connecting two of the North Island's most-visited destinations. International visitors may not be familiar with average speed camera technology, and the signage at the start of the corridor matters for awareness. The cameras will be signed with standard "Safety Camera Area" signage.

Tauranga and Mount Maunganui Driving

Tauranga and Mount Maunganui present a different set of driving challenges compared to the rural highways.

Urban Congestion

Tauranga's road network was designed for a much smaller city, and the region's rapid population growth has outstripped infrastructure capacity. SH2 through the city, the Takitimu Drive motorway, and the approaches to the Mount Maunganui peninsula all experience heavy congestion during peak hours.

During summer, the traffic situation gets much worse. Visitors to Mount Maunganui and the surrounding beaches add to the volume, and the single-lane SH2 approach to Mount Maunganui can back up for kilometres. I've sat in that queue myself more than once.

Camera Deployment

Mobile speed cameras operate across the Tauranga urban area. One telling data point: a NZ Herald report found that Tauranga drivers had racked up more than $2.5 million in speeding fines, showing that speeding is a real issue even in the urban context.

Key routes where enforcement occurs include:

• SH2 through Tauranga: The main arterial corridor
• Takitimu Drive: The motorway bypass
• Cameron Road: A major urban arterial
• SH29/SH29A connections: Routes to and from Hamilton and the Kaimai Range

Rotorua and Tourist Routes

Rotorua is a major tourist hub, and the roads around it carry a mix of local and tourist traffic. Several state highways converge on Rotorua, including SH5 (from Taupo), SH30 (from Whakatane and the Eastern Bay), SH33 (from the northwestern Bay of Plenty), and SH36 (from Tauranga via the Lakes).

Driving Considerations

• Tourist mix: International visitors may be driving on the left for the first time
• Geothermal hazards: Some roads pass near active geothermal areas with steam and reduced visibility
• Forestry traffic: Heavy logging trucks operate on many roads around Rotorua
• Wildlife: The area has large rural and semi-rural sections where livestock and wildlife can be road hazards

In 2024, Rotorua had 12 road deaths, the most locally for several years. That elevated toll contributed to the regional statistics and highlights why enforcement is being expanded in the area.

East Cape Routes

The East Cape (SH35) is one of New Zealand's most scenic driving routes, but also one of the most challenging. The road is narrow, winding, and remote, with limited services and variable road quality. While fixed speed cameras aren't common on the East Cape route, mobile enforcement does occur, particularly during holiday periods.

Drivers heading to the East Cape should:

• Allow far more time than mapping apps suggest: The road conditions slow travel considerably
• Be prepared for gravel sections: Some stretches are unsealed
• Carry fuel: Service stations are widely spaced
• Drive to the conditions: The posted limit may be higher than what the road safely supports

Hawke's Bay: Camera Overview

Hawke's Bay, encompassing Napier, Hastings, and the surrounding rural areas, has a concerning road safety record. In 2025, the region recorded 16 fatalities from Tararua to Wairoa by mid-year, putting it on track for the worst year on Hawke's Bay roads in a decade. Compare that with just five deaths in the full year of 2021 and eight in 2024.

And 11 of those 16 deaths in 2025 occurred in daylight hours, challenging the perception that night-time driving is always the most dangerous.

Historical Context

The last fixed speed camera to operate in Hawke's Bay was decommissioned around 2016. For nearly a decade, the region relied entirely on mobile camera deployment and police officer enforcement. The new fixed cameras going in during 2026 represent a major shift in enforcement infrastructure for the region.

SH2 Te Hauke-Pakipaki: New Average Speed Cameras (2026)

The headline camera installation for Hawke's Bay is the average speed camera corridor on SH2 between Te Hauke and Pakipaki.

The Route

This section of SH2 runs south of Hastings, connecting the city with the southern Hawke's Bay and eventually the Wairarapa. It's a two-lane highway carrying a mix of local, commercial, and inter-regional traffic.

Why It Matters

These will be the first fixed speed cameras installed in Hawke's Bay in roughly a decade. That gap is striking, and the installation shows NZTA's recognition that the region needs fixed enforcement infrastructure to complement mobile cameras.

Construction on the Te Hauke-Pakipaki site was announced to begin in mid-2026, following a similar timeline to other camera installations across the country.

Crash Context

Hawke's Bay has experienced alarming crash spikes. In early 2024, there were nine fatalities in nine separate incidents across just nine weeks. A police commander publicly urged drivers to lower their speeds in response to the toll. The pattern of centreline crossings and run-off-road crashes on rural highways is consistent with the crash types that average speed cameras are designed to address.

The Napier-Hastings Corridor

The Hawke's Bay Expressway connects Napier and Hastings over a distance of approximately 24 kilometres. It's the region's busiest road, carrying around 29,000 vehicles per day. The expressway is classified as a Road of National Significance and is reaching capacity in its central section during peak hours.

Safety Improvements

NZTA has a broader safety improvement program for the expressway, designed to deliver a more efficient and reliable connection between the two cities. The planned improvements are expected to prevent approximately five to seven deaths and serious injuries per year by 2048.

The Whakatu Arterial Link project is designed to move freight traffic safely from the Whakatu industrial park onto the expressway, eliminating two dangerous intersections at Mangateretere and Ruahapia-Pakowhai Road.

Camera Enforcement

The expressway sees both mobile and fixed camera enforcement. Given the high traffic volumes and the mix of urban and semi-rural sections, drivers should maintain consistent speed limit compliance throughout the corridor.

Wine Country Driving

Hawke's Bay is one of New Zealand's premier wine regions, and the roads between vineyards and cellar doors carry a distinctive mix of traffic: locals, tourists, cycling groups, and occasionally tractors and agricultural vehicles.

Key considerations:

• Narrow rural roads: Many vineyard access roads are narrow with limited visibility
• Cycling traffic: Hawke's Bay has extensive cycle trails, and cyclists frequently share the road
• Impairment risk: Wine tasting and driving are incompatible. Use designated drivers or tour operators
• Speed on back roads: Rural speed limits may be higher than the road conditions warrant. Drive to the conditions

Seasonal Traffic Patterns

Both regions experience large seasonal swings in traffic patterns.

Summer (December-February)

• Bay of Plenty: Traffic to Mount Maunganui, Papamoa, and the Coromandel increases dramatically. SH2 through Tauranga can experience severe congestion. The East Cape sees increased tourist traffic.
• Hawke's Bay: Wine tourism peaks, Art Deco Festival visitors add to Napier traffic, and domestic tourists boost volumes on regional roads.

Winter (June-August)

• Bay of Plenty: Traffic is lower, but Rotorua maintains tourism activity year-round. Fog and ice are hazards on inland routes, particularly SH5 and SH30.
• Hawke's Bay: Lower traffic volumes, but rural roads can be affected by frost and fog. The inland routes toward Taupo via SH5 are particularly affected.

Holiday Periods

Both regions see big traffic increases during public holidays, particularly Labour Weekend, Christmas/New Year, and Waitangi Day. NZTA and police typically increase enforcement during these periods, deploying additional mobile cameras and conducting targeted operations.

What Is Changing in 2026

The 2026 camera expansion represents the biggest change in speed enforcement infrastructure in both regions in years. In summary:

Location	Region	Camera Type	Status
SH2 Otamarakau-Matata	Bay of Plenty	Average Speed	Construction mid-2026
SH5 Tumunui	Bay of Plenty	Average Speed	Planned 2026
SH2 Te Hauke-Pakipaki	Hawke's Bay	Average Speed	Construction mid-2026

These three installations will add six new fixed camera points across the two regions, all using average speed technology. The emphasis on average speed cameras rather than spot speed cameras reflects NZTA's strategy of enforcing sustained compliance over corridors, targeting the kind of sustained speeding that contributes most to serious and fatal crashes.

View Camera Locations

Use our interactive map to see all current speed camera locations in the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay regions. The map is updated weekly with official NZTA data.

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Sources

• NZTA: Construction to start on new average speed safety cameras in Bay of Plenty
• NZTA: Fixed Safety Camera Locations
• NZTA: New Average Speed Safety Camera Sites
• Hawke's Bay to get its first fixed speed cameras in a decade, NZ Herald
• Bay of Plenty 2024 road toll up on 2023, NZ Herald
• Nine crashes, nine deaths on Hawke's Bay roads in nine weeks, NZ Herald
• Ministry of Transport: Provisional Road Deaths
• NZTA: SH2 Hawke's Bay Expressway
• Where NZ's next average speed safety cameras are being installed, 1News

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This content has been fact-checked against official sources but may contain inaccuracies. This is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Data updated weekly from Waka Kotahi NZTA.