Vandalised speed camera on East Coast Rd sparks debate, Auckland Council spat
A speed camera has been chopped down in Auckland, sparking online debate and an internal spat between two local board members.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said it was aware of “damage to an average-speed safety camera and pole” on East Coast Rd near Bawden Rd in Redvale.
A widely viewed video, posted on Facebook by North Shore local Chris Jellie, showed a sawn-off speed camera on the ground on Thursday morning.
NZTA told the Herald that police were investigating the “intentional vandalism”.
“The pole has been removed, and the site has been made safe. The camera will be reinstalled as soon as possible.
“This camera is part of the East Coast Rd average-speed safety camera corridor, which has been operating since July 2026.
“Intentional vandalism of NZTA property is a criminal offence, and the matter has been reported to NZ Police, who are investigating.”
Jellie’s video, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views and more than 2000 comments largely in support of the vandalism, was shared by Rodney Local Board member Geoff Upson, who later visited the site himself.
Upson’s apparent support of the vigilante act was criticised by Rodney Local Board chairman Guy Wishart.
“I would like to say that this is not the opinion of myself or other local board members across Auckland as an expensive camera is destroyed and will need replacing at ratepayers/taxpayers’ expense,” Wishart said on Facebook.
Upson, who calls himself a road safety campaigner, described the speed trap as a “revenue camera”.
He said he hadn’t been contacted by Wishart and believed his colleague’s post “backfired”.
“I went through the comments and it was so funny because, like, literally every comment except for one was pro cutting the speed camera down,” Upson told the Herald.
“I was like: ‘Dude, it’s kind of backfired on you, hasn’t it’?”
‘His views’
Wishart responded to the Herald late this morning, saying: “It was important for me, as Rodney Local Board Chair, to state publicly that his views were not supported by any elected members I am aware of.”
Wishart went on to say Upson should be described as a roading campaigner, rather than a road safety campaigner.
“He repeatedly talks about increasing road speeds to 100km/hr to make roads safer, without giving any data that supports this.
“This narrative is not supported by any evidence I am aware of, but is popular with a section of the community who see any restrictions or reductions to road speeds - based on reported deaths and serious injury data - as a restriction on their freedom, preferring to describe it dismissively as revenue gathering.”
Upson said the speed limit on East Coast Rd was reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h a couple of years ago despite “community opposition”.
He believed speed cameras were not about safety, and that vigilante acts to cut them down were the community “standing up” to the Government and the council.
“If it was about safety, there would be speed cameras outside schools. As far as I’m aware, there is not a single permanent speed camera outside any school anywhere in New Zealand.
“The speed cameras are only installed on roads that have had a reduced speed limit … It’s very obvious that it’s only about maximising revenue from those cameras.”
NZTA said “vandalism of safety cameras is not only extremely disappointing and costly, it puts road users at risk”.
“The risk of crashes is 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.
“It’s also worth noting that there are live electrical cables in the poles of safety cameras, so the vandal is also putting themselves at significant risk of electric shock.
“We can’t confirm a definite cost for repair and replacement until investigations are complete. However, the costs of vandalism ultimately fall on taxpayers and divert resources that could otherwise be used to improve road safety.”
It isn’t the first time a speed camera has been chopped down. One on the Coatesville Riverhead Highway was similarly vandalised in February.
The highway has had its speed limit lowered from 100km/h to 60km/h over the years and more than 36,000 fines, totalling about $3.7 million, have been issued on it.
Jellie, who said he was “surprised” by the viral reaction to his post, echoed similar sentiments to Upson.
“It goes to show how fed up the public are becoming with this increasingly heavy-handed big brother approach.”
He said the vigilante acts reflected the “global phenomenon” of so-called Blade Runners – a term originating in London, where underground groups illegally cut down traffic, surveillance and speed cameras – coming to New Zealand.
Both Jellie and Upson said they did not support illegal acts, but hoped raising awareness of the issue would help to effect what they believe will be positive, democratic change.
Upson has previously spoken out about speed cameras, causing Auckland Council to assess whether his comments violated the code of conduct for elected members after three complaints.