Common questions about CCTV, access control, intruder alarms, and intercoms for Auckland homes and businesses. Answered by Comsys Security — Glendene, Auckland.
For a 3- or 4-bedroom on a 400–700 m² section, six cameras is the right answer about 70% of the time: front door, driveway, both sides, back deck, internal entry. Four cameras suits compact properties; eight or more for big sections. See the how-many-cameras blog post.
Four-camera 4MP IP system with NVR: $2,200–$3,800 supplied and installed. Six-camera with ColorVu: $3,500–$5,500. Mid-size commercial (12–16 cameras + access integration): $14,000–$22,000. Use the calculator below or read the CCTV cost guide.
Around 30 days is the sensible default under the Privacy Act 2020 for residential and general commercial use. Higher-risk sites (hospitality, retail, warehousing) often retain 60–90 days as a documented decision.
Yes. Recording continues to the on-site NVR independently of internet. What stops working is remote app viewing and any cloud backup. Local USB export is still available.
4MP is the practical default for residential and most commercial overview shots. 6MP and 4K are useful where you’ll digitally zoom into recorded footage or where the camera covers a long view. Higher resolution doesn’t fix bad placement.
Hikvision ColorVu and Dahua Full-Color cameras have high-aperture lenses and a visible-light supplementary illuminator. They give usable colour identification at night with very low ambient light, instead of black-and-white IR footage.
Standalone CCTV cameras on your own property generally don’t require Auckland Council consent. The Privacy Act 2020 still applies. Heritage Overlay properties may have rules on visible exterior alterations — we check before quoting.
Depends on the property. Wired alarms (Paradox EVO, Inner Range Integriti, Bosch Solution) are the default for new builds and larger sites. Wireless alarms (Ajax, Paradox MG, Risco) are the default for retrofits and heritage buildings where running new cable would damage finished surfaces.
No. Comsys installs and maintains alarm hardware. The panel can be configured to report to a third-party 24/7 monitoring station of your choice. We don’t run a monitoring centre. See the monitoring cost guide.
Yes. Modern panels include battery backup sized for at least 4–8 hours. Sirens, sensors, and the panel stay live. The comms path stays live in most cases.
Yes — partial or “stay” arming. The panel is zoned so external doors, sliders, and living-area motion sensors arm at night while sleeping areas are bypassed.
The Australian/New Zealand alarm-installation standard most NZ insurers reference. Comsys installs to the standard’s technical requirements and provides a written commissioning record on every install.
Paxton Net2 is the default for 1–200 doors. PC-based or cloud, mobile credentials via Paxton Entry, audit logs, well-supported in NZ. Inner Range Integriti is the next step up for larger sites. See the access control buyer’s guide.
No. 125 kHz Prox and EM4100 cards can be cloned in 30 seconds with a $30 device. New installs should use 13.56 MHz MIFARE DESFire EV2 or HID iCLASS Seos cards, or mobile credentials.
Yes for Paxton Net2 Entry and HID Mobile Access. The credential is cached on the phone; the reader exchanges it via Bluetooth or NFC even without internet.
NZ Building Code D1 requires free egress on escape routes. For mag-locked doors that means a Request-to-Exit sensor (or push-to-exit button) plus a manual break-glass that physically cuts power to the lock.
Sometimes — if the handsets are from a current-generation 2N, Aiphone, or Comelit system. For older 2-wire-only handsets, a 2-wire-to-IP bridge or replacement is the choice.
Yes — the call routes via the manufacturer’s cloud service and works anywhere your phone has data. Some apartment buildings require a local handset as a fallback.
Yes. Modern IP intercoms (2N IP Verso, Akuvox R20) can drive multiple electrical relays, so the same call panel opens the pedestrian gate, vehicle gate, and front door.
Yes. Under the Privacy Act 2020, properties recording CCTV that captures public space, neighbours, customers, or staff need clearly visible signage at entry points. We provide standard signage on every install.
Most NVRs export to USB stick in MP4 format. We document the export process in your commissioning pack and step you through it on commissioning day.
Biometric data is sensitive personal information under the Privacy Act 2020. We document the purpose, storage, and access controls in your commissioning pack. For school and healthcare sites, additional sector requirements apply.
Most Auckland residential jobs: free on-site assessment within 5 working days from Glendene, installation the following week or two. West Auckland sites: 2–3 working days. Commercial fit-outs depend on cabling and any landlord approvals; call 09 243 0840 if a settlement or move-in is driving the timing.
Yes, always. Every quote lists each camera, reader, lock, and panel by brand and model, with cabling and labour itemised separately. We don’t do “from $X” teaser pricing.
Manufacturer warranty on hardware (typically 2–3 years for CCTV, 3–5 years for alarm panels). Comsys workmanship warranty is 12 months. Maintenance contracts extend the workmanship cover.
Yes for major NZ-supported brands (Hikvision, Dahua, Axis, Paxton, HID, Inner Range, Aiphone, 2N). For grey-market or non-NZ-supported equipment we’ll do what’s practical but can’t source replacement parts under warranty.
Indicative supplied-and-installed price for a Comsys CCTV system. Move the inputs to match your site — the calculator updates live.
This calculator is a guide only. Final pricing depends on the site visit; specific camera models, mounting access, cable routing, and any access control or alarm integration can move the number up or down.
