Kaitaia is now under increased surveillance as part of an effort to crack down on crime.

There are now up to 120 CCTV cameras operating in the town and non-profit security company Total Security Management has joined forces with local police to monitor the cameras.

It's part of the Ministry of Social Development's, Make It Happen Te Hiku, a project to design and fund “place-based” social services that respond to local need.

Te Aupouri Maori Trust Board CEO Lee West believes the efforts are likely to significantly reduce crime rates.

He said the whole town is covered in cameras and they'll have teams actively patrolling residential areas too, which is likely to reduce crime rates significantly.

 "We now would say that the town is covered by CCTV cameras and obviously where we don't have that CCTV coverage, we now actively patrol."