The lead-up to Christmas is one of the busiest trading periods for NZ retailers, and it puts more pressure on your CCTV than any other time of year. Stores are crowded, trading hours are longer, and many businesses bring in temporary staff. A camera that failed quietly in July is exactly the one you'll wish had been working in December. This guide gives you a practical checklist to get your system ready before the rush.
Key takeaways:
Retail crime is widespread in NZ: police data reported in October 2026 showed supermarket crime up 452% since 2018, and Retail NZ's 2024 report found 73% of retailers experienced shoplifting in a year
Police resolved about one in five supermarket offences last year, so clear, usable footage matters more than ever
The main seasonal risks are busier stores, extended hours, and temporary staff, so a system that works on quiet days may struggle at peak
Check that every camera is actually recording, not just showing a live picture
Make sure your footage is retained long enough to review incidents reported days later
Set up individual logins for seasonal staff and remove access when they leave
Fix problems now, because issues found in mid-December can be harder to get repaired quickly
Why the Christmas and Summer Period Matters for Retail Security
Retail crime is a year-round problem in New Zealand, and the latest figures show the pressure is not easing. Police data released to 1News under the Official Information Act, reported on 30 October 2026, showed supermarket crime had risen 452% since 2018, with nearly 38,000 incidents reported in 2025 alone. In the first six months of 2026 there were more than 17,000 victimisations. Police also noted that improvements to the reporting system have made incidents easier to log, so part of the rise reflects better recording as well as more offending.
Supermarkets are the clearest example, but the problem is wider. Retail NZ's 2024 retail crime report found that 73% of retailers experienced shoplifting during the year and 58% experienced threatening behaviour, as reported in the organisation's July 2025 media release.
The same 1News report highlights why footage quality matters. Police resolved about one in five supermarket offences last year, down from one in three in 2018. Woolworths' safety manager told 1News that staff face abuse daily and some have been threatened with weapons, and the company is adding body cameras, safe rooms and number plate recognition. Few small businesses can match that investment, but the principle applies at any size: clear, reliable footage gives police and insurers something they can act on.
The Christmas period adds extra pressure. NZ Police have described the lead-up to Christmas as a time when retailers see a surge in activity, with busy stores, extended hours and lots of last-minute shoppers (NZ Police). Retail industry groups have also long said that shoplifting tends to rise in the run-up to Christmas, though not every retailer reports a spike, and some have said summers were no worse than usual.
What is clearer is the practical effect: more people, more distractions, and less time for staff to watch the floor. That makes dependable footage more valuable, both as a deterrent and as evidence if something does happen.
The Pre-Christmas CCTV Checklist
1. Confirm Every Camera Is Actually Recording
A camera showing a live picture is not necessarily recording. Pick a few cameras and play back footage from last week, including footage from the evening. Look for gaps, frozen frames, or cameras that have been silently offline.
2. Check Your Storage and Retention
If your system overwrites footage every one to two weeks, an incident discovered after a busy weekend might already be gone. Check how many days of footage you actually hold, and whether that is enough for how quickly your team spots and reports problems. Cloud storage also protects footage if on-site hardware is damaged or taken. See our comparison of cloud vs local CCTV storage.
3. Clean Lenses and Check Camera Angles
Dust, cobwebs, and sun glare on outdoor cameras reduce image quality. Displays, signage, and seasonal decorations can also block the view of a camera that was positioned months ago. Walk the shop floor and check that each camera still sees what it's meant to see.
4. Cover the High-Risk Areas
Make sure your cameras cover entrances and exits, the till area, high-value or frequently targeted stock, and the stockroom and back door. Incidents often happen away from the main shop floor. Entrances and tills deserve cameras with enough resolution to identify faces, since footage that can't identify anyone is much harder for police to use. See our guide on CCTV for retail, warehouses and offices for how coverage priorities differ by business type.
5. Check the Date and Time Settings
If a recorder's clock is out by hours, matching footage to a till record or an incident report becomes slow and unreliable. Confirm the time and date are correct on your system.
6. Set Up Access for Temporary Staff the Right Way
Seasonal staff may need to view footage, but avoid sharing one manager login. Give each person their own account, and remove access when their contract ends. Individual logins also create a record of who accessed footage. See our guide on CCTV security and hackers for more on access control.
7. Test Remote Access and Alerts
If you rely on checking cameras from your phone, test that the app works and that any alerts reach the right people. Do this before you need it.
8. Check Your Signage
Signs should be visible at entry points and accurate for the areas you actually monitor. Under the Privacy Act 2020, people should be reasonably aware that they may be recorded. See our guide on CCTV and the Privacy Act 2020.
9. Know How to Export Footage Quickly
If something happens, you or a manager should know how to find the right time on the right camera and export the clip for police or insurance. Practice once before you need to do it under pressure.
10. Book Any Repairs or Upgrades Early
If your checks turn up a failing camera, a full drive, or a system that can't deliver what you need, sort it out now. Many trades slow down over the holiday break, so a fault found in mid-December can easily wait until January. If your system is showing its age, see our guide on the signs your business CCTV needs replacing.
Quick Pre-Christmas CCTV Checklist
Every camera is recording, confirmed by playing back real footage
Footage is kept long enough to cover how quickly incidents are noticed
Lenses are clean and no camera view is blocked by displays or decorations
Entrances, tills, high-value stock, stockroom and back door are covered
Date and time on the recorder are correct
Temporary staff have individual logins, and access is removed when they leave
Remote access and alerts have been tested
Signage is visible and accurate
A manager knows how to export footage quickly
Repairs and upgrades are booked before the holiday shutdown
Frequently Asked Questions
How common is retail crime in NZ? Retail crime is widespread. Retail NZ's 2024 report found 73% of retailers experienced shoplifting in the year, and police data reported by 1News in October 2026 showed supermarket crime up 452% since 2018, with nearly 38,000 incidents reported in 2025. Police note that improved reporting makes incidents easier to log, so part of the increase reflects better recording.
Does shoplifting increase over Christmas in NZ? Police and retail industry groups have described the lead-up to Christmas as a busy, higher-pressure period for retailers, with more shoppers, extended hours and extra activity. Not every retailer sees a spike, but the practical risks of crowded stores and stretched staff make it a sensible time to check your security.
How do I check that my CCTV is actually recording? Play back footage from several cameras, including from the evening, rather than relying on the live view. Look for gaps, frozen images, or cameras with no recent footage.
How long should I keep CCTV footage over the busy period? There's no single rule, but you need enough retention to cover how quickly incidents are noticed and reported. The Privacy Act 2020 expects footage to be kept only as long as reasonably necessary, and many NZ businesses use around 30 to 60 days. See our guide on the Privacy Act for more detail.
Should temporary staff have access to CCTV footage? Only if they need it. If they do, give each person an individual login rather than sharing a manager account, and remove access when they finish.
Is it too late to fix my CCTV before Christmas? Not if you act early. The earlier you identify problems, the more likely they can be fixed before the busiest trading days and before the holiday break slows things down.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For guidance specific to your business, consult a lawyer or the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
