Police are considering handing over management of the country's speed cameras.

New Zealand's speed camera network could soon be privately managed as police look to re-deploy their resources to other areas.

The network currently includes 19 fixed speed cameras, 43 mobile speed cameras in vans, and three dual purpose red light/speed cameras.

But the number of fixed cameras is to swell to 56 by the end of the year, increasing the workload involved in managing the network and processing infringements.

Mytchall Bransgrove/Fairfax NZ The safety camera network also includes 43 speed camera vans.

Police are now reviewing their ownership of the network.

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Details of the move were revealed in a briefing from New Zealand Transport Agency chief executive Fergus Gammie to the Minister of Transport, obtained under the Official Information Act.

In it Gammie said both the police and agency had agreed a review was needed for several reasons.

These included the fact that the level of resources required to run the network diverted resources away from other road policing priorities.

"[There is] the need to continuously increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the police's workforce by ensuring all staff are undertaking the right activities at the right times to address road safety risks."

Other reasons for the review included an increase in the use of technology in the network and higher interest from road controlling authorities to own and manage items such as red light cameras.

Both the police and NZTA declined interview requests.

But in a written statement, police national road policing manager Superintendent Steve Greally said transferring the network management to the NZTA or a private/public partnership were both possibilities.

If the latter was chosen, statutory oversight by a government agency would remain a key requirement.

It was also possible the network would continue to be managed by police following the review.

Greally noted that all traffic fines went to the Government's consolidated fund and not to police.

"The aim of the safety camera system is not to generate fines, but to encourage people to travel at legal safe speeds and therefore reduce speed-related deaths and injuries.

"This would remain the focus of the system regardless of whatever future operating model may be in place."

The briefing document noted the review provided an opportunity to explore how the safety network could be integrated into intelligent transport systems, such as those used on the Wellington Smart Motorway and Auckland's Waterview Tunnel.

NZTA road safety director Harry Wilson said it would simplify matters to have one organisation responsible for both camera enforcement and network management.

Information about traffic flows and speeds, bottlenecks, and crashes could be used to set the operating hours of speed cameras so they were targeted to risk areas.

It could also work in the other direction, with areas with a high rate of offending possibly needing new road design or signage, he said.

AA spokesman Mike Noon said he had no problem with the proposal, as long as the correct checks were in place.

"It makes sense to do it the most efficient way possible. It may mean we get a faster and better system and tickets get issued quicker, which would be good."

Private management was not an uncommon system overseas and worked well, he said.

The review is expected to be completed by October.