Matamata breaks new ground with webcam

By CATHY ARONSON

A police security camera focusing on Matamata's main street is to be connected to the internet, giving the world 24-hour-a-day viewing of the town's residents.

Police say the camera is needed to combat a surge in crime in the small Waikato town, although the Matamata Public Relations Association plans to use the town's website to broadcast footage.

Once connected, it would be a first for New Zealand, although large parts of the country have been under 24-hour electronic surveillance since cameras began popping up for crime prevention in the early 1990s.

Privacy law specialist Bob Stevens said while webcams at places like skifields were common, the live surveillance of a town could be a world first. He said the internet broadcast did not contravene the Privacy Act, which allows "anyone to do anything with personal information as long as you are open and honest about its purpose."

The camera will be installed next month.

Privacy Commissioner Bruce Slane has said he was not opposed to camera surveillance if there was a high level of crime.

Police privacy adviser Phil Gillman said the police would get advice from the commissioner, assess its policy and modify it if necessary.