Invercargill and Bluff’s new CCTV network is now live, marking a significant milestone in Council’s ongoing commitment to creating safer public spaces for all residents and visitors.

For stage one, Invercargill City Council committed $2.3 million to investigate and install CCTV across parts of Invercargill and Bluff after requests from the community and Police.

There are 68 cameras across 23 locations in the CBD, South City, and Stirling Point in Bluff, which produce high-resolution live footage 24 hours a day. The footage is recorded and kept for three months before it is deleted.

Council Group Manager Infrastructure Erin Moogan said these cameras would not only have the immediate effect of deterring crime but also act as an investigative tool for Police to address criminal activity more effectively.

“Safe public spaces increase the quality of life for our community members as well as supporting local businesses through local spending.”

New Zealand Police were able to view a live feed but would need to request footage as needed, Moogan said.

“Council has a dedicated process request for and provision of this information, and appropriate measures are in place to ensure the integrity and security of the data.

“We’ve heard what the community has been saying and I’m pleased that we have now delivered this project to offer peace of mind to not only those who live here, but visitors to our city as well,” Moogan said.

Southland Area Commander Inspector Mike Bowman said it was great to see that the cameras had finally reached this stage.

“We are certainly hoping they will provide the community some added reassurance and that these cameras will actively deter criminal activity. It certainly aligns with the goal of trying to make Southland one of the safest areas in New Zealand.

“It’s been a fantastic collaboration with Police and Invercargill City Council over a number of years to get to this point.”