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We received a ticket for passing the (fixed/static) safe speed camera north of Kamo/Whangarei too fast on Sunday 8 July 2018, after having gone through this area for 6 months without ever being ticketed. Does anyone know if the respective 80 km/h signs were possibly not visible or not even mounted at this time? Would the Police have to prove that the signs were mounted, or would we have to prove that they were not? Would it be worth it to ask the Police, or would this be a matter to be solved in Court (were I we do not intend to go to)?

Hi there,
It would be up to you to prove that you were not travelling faster than the posted speed limit for that area. If the area was not residential (50km) or open road (100) then you will need to be looking at where were the signs placed that informed of this. Google maps or street view might help if you are no longer able to visit the area.

Thank you for your quick reply, I guess I did not get the core of my question clear though. There has been an 80 km/h sign posted for around 6 months, since the new camera is up and running. We have always observed the speed limit respectively we never received a ticket, and we went through this area at least a dozen times.
I wonder why we were caught with 23 km/h over. It somehow feels that the two signs that are usually there had not been up at that particular time. And who would have to prove that they were up and visible - or not. Would perhaps the NZTA be the agency to ask regarding sign possibly been taken off, or the the Police in Whangarei?
To me, this is not primarily about the $170 - I am concerned with the traffic history in regards to insurance and to Immigration NZ and a citizenship application.
I should add that I did go there again (800 km return), just to see if the signs are up - which they are, the actual post overgrown with weeds, do the 4x4 wooden pillar will have been up.
I am thinking about the possibility that e.g. someone had covered the signs with rubbish bags or such.

Noticed in Lower Hutt due to roadworks that a bus stop sign has been covered over with a bag, very sure that I have seen road speed signs covered over also during roadworks, I assume that information/records would be held by the public authority responsible for those authorised road repairs/clearing foliage from signage etc, I would try the local council.