Nanny Cameras
How to choose a nanny camera
Live viewing is the feature that matters
Recording to a card tells you what happened yesterday; a WiFi model tells you what is happening right now, and sends an alert the moment it detects movement. For a parent checking on a child, a family checking on an older relative, or a home with a carer coming and going, that is the whole reason for buying one. Mains power is worth prioritising, since it runs every day.
Where it should go, and where it should not
A clock or charger sits naturally on a shelf at the right height for a living room; a smoke detector camera covers the widest area from the ceiling. Living areas, the kitchen, the hallway, a play space. Not bathrooms, not bedrooms a carer might use, and with a carer in the house, switch audio off while you are out: you can only record conversations you are part of.
Compare the objects
 Desk clock |  Charging dock |  Smoke detector |  Plush toy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Mains | Mains | Mains or battery | Battery or USB |
| Sits where | Shelf, side table | Bench, desk | Ceiling | A playroom or play area |
| View | Living room from table height | Room from bench height | Whole room from above | Play area at floor height |
| Live view | WiFi | WiFi | WiFi | WiFi |
Buying guides
Hidden Camera Buying Guide NZThe object decides everything
WiFi Security Camera Buying Guide NZWhether your signal reaches
Counter-Surveillance Buying Guide NZHow to find hidden cameras, bugs and trackers
Related
Hidden Cameras WiFi Security Cameras Mini Spy Cameras Spy Cameras Alarm Systems
Common questions
Do I need WiFi at the house?
For live viewing and alerts, yes. Without WiFi the camera still records to a memory card for later review.
Can more than one person watch?
Most WiFi camera apps let you add a second phone, so a partner or another family member gets the same alerts. The listing says which app the camera uses.
Will it record at night?
Models with infrared see a dark room without lighting it up. The listing gives the range.
Is it legal to use a nanny camera in New Zealand? NZ law
On your own property, yes, with limits. The Crimes Act 1961 makes it an offence, with up to three years in prison, to record anyone where they would expect privacy while undressed, showering, using a toilet or in an intimate situation (sections 216G to 216J), so bathrooms, bedrooms and changing areas are off limits. If the camera records sound, the same rule as a voice recorder applies: you can only capture conversations you are part of (section 216B), so switch audio off for anything that records while you are away. Since 26 May 2026, repeatedly recording or tracking a particular person in a way you know is likely to cause fear or distress is stalking under the Crimes Act (sections 216O to 216Q), with up to five years. A business using cameras must follow the Privacy Act 2020: a clear purpose, telling people they are recorded, footage kept secure and no longer than needed, and access for anyone who asks for footage of themselves. A nanny or carer is an employee: tell them cameras are in use, keep cameras out of any room they might change in, and do not record audio while you are out of the house.