NDAA-Compliant CCTV Systems: What NZ Integrators Need to Know

NDAA compliance is becoming an increasingly important consideration when New Zealand security integrators specify CCTV systems for government, infrastructure, multinational, defence-related and other procurement-sensitive projects.

However, there is also considerable confusion around what an NDAA-compliant CCTV system actually is. Brands such as Hikvision, Dahua, UniView, Tiandy and TVT are often discussed together, even though their positions under the relevant United States procurement rules are different.

The first point NZ installers need to understand is that NDAA is United States legislation. It does not create a blanket New Zealand ban on Hikvision, Dahua or other CCTV brands.

Where NDAA requirements are written into a tender, customer specification or international procurement policy, however, they can have a major effect on which cameras, NVRs and associated equipment an integrator can specify.

This guide explains Section 889, how it affects Hikvision and Dahua, why UniView, Tiandy and TVT can be relevant alternatives, and what NZ integrators should verify before describing a CCTV system as NDAA compliant.

What Does NDAA-Compliant CCTV Mean?

When the security industry refers to NDAA-compliant CCTV, it is normally referring to Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 and the associated United States Federal Acquisition Regulation.

FAR 52.204-25 defines covered telecommunications and video-surveillance equipment and services for US federal contracting purposes.

For the CCTV industry, the regulation specifically identifies video-surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by:

• Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company;
• Dahua Technology Company; and
• Hytera Communications Corporation.

The regulation also addresses Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation for telecommunications equipment and can extend to relevant subsidiaries, affiliates and other designated entities.

This means NDAA compliance cannot be determined simply by asking whether a camera was manufactured in China. The manufacturer, exact model, company relationships, system components and contractual wording all matter.

Is NDAA Compliance Required in New Zealand?

No general New Zealand law requires every CCTV installation to use NDAA-compliant equipment.

A residential home, retail store, warehouse or ordinary commercial property in New Zealand does not automatically have to exclude Hikvision or Dahua simply because those manufacturers are addressed by US procurement legislation.

NDAA compliance can become relevant when:

• a tender specifically requires compliance with Section 889;
• the customer works with US federal agencies or US government contractors;
• a multinational organisation has adopted NDAA requirements across international sites;
• a consultant specifies NDAA-compliant surveillance equipment;
• the project involves defence, critical infrastructure or other sensitive facilities;
• a corporate procurement policy excludes specified manufacturers; or
• future international procurement requirements need to be considered.

New Zealand Government Procurement separately requires agencies to consider national-security risks during procurement. Its guidance on managing national-security risks in procurement specifically identifies surveillance equipment, including cameras, as technology that can require additional supply-chain and security consideration.

That is not the same as applying the US NDAA in New Zealand, but it reinforces why equipment provenance, suppliers, support arrangements and the wider surveillance architecture increasingly matter.

Hikvision vs Dahua vs UniView vs Tiandy vs TVT: NDAA Position

Hikvision and NDAA: What NZ Installers Need to Know

Hikvision has a broad professional surveillance ecosystem covering IP cameras, NVRs, thermal cameras, ANPR, PTZ cameras, access control, intercoms and video management.

However, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company is specifically identified within FAR 52.204-25 for the covered public-safety, government-facility, critical-infrastructure and national-security surveillance applications defined by the regulation.

This does not mean Hikvision cameras are generally illegal in New Zealand.

It means that where a customer or tender explicitly requires compliance with the applicable Section 889 restrictions, a standard Hikvision CCTV system will normally create a procurement conflict.

NZ integrators should therefore determine the compliance requirement before designing the CCTV system rather than discovering the issue after cameras and recorders have been selected.

Dahua and NDAA: A Similar Position

Dahua is in a similar position to Hikvision under the US regulation.

Dahua has an extensive professional surveillance range covering technologies such as WizSense, WizMind, active deterrence, ANPR, PTZ, thermal imaging and network video recorders.

However, Dahua Technology Company is also specifically identified in FAR 52.204-25 for the relevant covered surveillance applications.

Again, that does not create a blanket New Zealand prohibition on Dahua CCTV.

For normal NZ installations without an NDAA-related contractual requirement, Dahua IP cameras can still be evaluated according to their technical performance, cyber-security requirements, local support and customer needs.

Where Section 889 compliance is specifically required, another CCTV platform will normally need to be selected.

UniView: One of the Clearest NDAA Alternatives

For New Zealand integrators looking for a professional CCTV alternative, UniView is particularly useful because the manufacturer publishes a detailed model-specific compliance list.

The official UniView NDAA statement and compliance list was updated in August 2026 and covers a large number of cameras, NVRs and specialist surveillance products.

This is an important distinction. Rather than simply describing an entire brand as NDAA compliant, the installer can check a particular camera or recorder model against current manufacturer documentation.

One example available from Essential Security Supplies is the UniView IPC2128SB-ADF28KMC-I0 8MP Active Deterrence Camera. The exact IPC2128SB-ADF28KMC-I0 model appears on UniView's August 2026 published compliance list.

UniView IPC2128SB-ADF28KMC-I0 8MP Active Deterrence Camera available from Essential Security Supplies.

Key capabilities include:

• 8MP / 4K imaging;
• 120dB true WDR;
• built-in microphone and speaker;
• active-deterrence alarm lighting;
• Smart IR up to 30 metres;
• microSD edge storage;
• PoE; and
• IP67 weather protection.

UniView's broader surveillance range includes LightHunter, ColorHunter, Tri-Guard, Smart Intrusion Prevention, ANPR, panoramic cameras and professional NVRs. You can browse the UniView IP camera range at Essential Security Supplies.

For a tender, continue to check the complete model number and suffix against the manufacturer's current compliance list.

Tiandy and NDAA Compliance

Tiandy is another professional video-surveillance manufacturer increasingly encountered in New Zealand.

Tiandy publishes an official statement on the National Defense Authorization Act and states that its compliance-product list is updated as its product range develops.

This makes Tiandy worth considering when a project requires an alternative surveillance platform, but installers should avoid making a blanket statement that every Tiandy product is NDAA compliant.

The correct approach is to check the exact proposed model against the current manufacturer documentation.

Essential Security Supplies carries Tiandy equipment including the TC-C38XQ-4LHA 8MP Trilight Active Defense Camera.

Tiandy TC-C38XQ-4LHA 8MP professional IP camera. Confirm the exact model's current compliance status before specifying it for an NDAA-sensitive project.

The important procurement lesson is not to confuse brand availability with verified model compliance. If Tiandy is proposed for an NDAA-sensitive tender, retain a copy of the manufacturer's current compliance documentation with the project records.

You can also browse the Tiandy surveillance range at Essential Security Supplies.

TVT and NDAA Compliance

TVT is another relevant manufacturer for NZ installers because it provides a conventional professional CCTV architecture covering IP cameras, PTZ cameras, NVRs, DVRs, analytics and surveillance software.

TVT publishes an official NDAA Compliance Statement.

That makes TVT a useful platform to investigate when an installer needs cameras and recording equipment outside the Hikvision and Dahua ecosystems.

TVT professional IP surveillance camera available through Essential Security Supplies. Verify the exact camera and recorder model against current TVT NDAA documentation before quoting compliance.

TVT's professional surveillance range includes:

• fixed IP cameras;
• motorised varifocal cameras;
• active-deterrence cameras;
• AI human and vehicle classification;
• PTZ cameras;
• ANPR and specialist cameras;
• NVRs and DVRs; and
• larger commercial surveillance platforms.

Essential Security Supplies carries a range of TVT surveillance equipment for New Zealand installations.

As with UniView and Tiandy, model verification remains essential. Do not describe an entire installation as NDAA compliant purely because a manufacturer offers compliant equipment elsewhere in its range.

Does Made in China Mean a CCTV Camera Is Not NDAA Compliant?

No.

This is one of the most persistent misunderstandings surrounding NDAA surveillance equipment.

Section 889 is not simply a rule stating that CCTV products manufactured in China cannot comply.

Hikvision and Dahua are specifically identified in the relevant US regulation, while other manufacturers based in China publish products or product lists that they state meet applicable NDAA requirements.

Country of manufacture alone is therefore not enough to determine compliance.

Being Different From Hikvision or Dahua Does Not Automatically Mean Compliant

The reverse assumption is equally risky.

A camera does not automatically become NDAA compliant simply because it does not carry a Hikvision or Dahua badge.

For an actual tender, the integrator should verify:

• the manufacturer;
• the complete camera model number and suffix;
• the NVR model;
• relevant subsidiaries or affiliates;
• communications equipment where applicable;
• services used by the surveillance system;
• the current manufacturer's compliance documentation; and
• the customer's exact contract wording.

Why the NVR Matters as Much as the Camera

An NDAA-sensitive surveillance project should be assessed as a complete system, not simply as a collection of cameras.

A modern IP CCTV installation can contain:

• IP cameras;
• network video recorders;
• video-management servers;
• PoE switches;
• routers;
• wireless network links;
• encoders and decoders;
• cloud services;
• remote-management platforms; and
• integrated intercom or access-control equipment.

FAR 52.204-25 addresses covered equipment or services used as a substantial or essential component of a system.

That is why checking only the badge on the camera can be inadequate.

If the project requires a documented NDAA-compliant solution, verify the relevant recorder, network equipment and services as well.

NDAA Compliance Is Not the Same as Cyber Security

Another important distinction is that NDAA compliance should not be treated as a complete cyber-security certification.

A camera can satisfy a procurement requirement and still need to be correctly configured, maintained and secured.

A professionally designed CCTV network should consider:

• manufacturer firmware support;
• security-patch availability;
• unique administrator passwords;
• HTTPS and encrypted communications;
• network segmentation;
• VLAN design;
• remote-access controls;
• user permissions;
• logging and auditing;
• vulnerability disclosure and management;
• cloud-platform security; and
• how long the manufacturer intends to maintain the product.

New Zealand's National Cyber Security Centre recommends that organisations consider whether digital products are secure when purchased and whether that security can be maintained throughout their lifecycle. See the NCSC guidance on choosing secure and verifiable technologies.

NDAA status is therefore one procurement consideration within a much broader cyber-security and supply-chain assessment.

Which CCTV Brand Should an NZ Integrator Choose?

The answer depends first on whether the project actually contains an NDAA requirement.

Projects Without an NDAA Requirement

For an ordinary New Zealand installation, Hikvision, Dahua, UniView, Tiandy and TVT can be compared on the factors that determine whether the surveillance system will actually perform well:

• image quality;
• low-light performance;
• lens selection;
• AI analytics;
• NVR capability;
• storage requirements;
• cyber-security;
• integration;
• local technical support;
• warranty; and
• total project cost.

Projects Requiring Section 889 Compliance

When Section 889 compliance is explicitly required, the decision changes.

Hikvision and Dahua need to be treated differently because they are specifically identified within FAR 52.204-25 for the covered applications defined by the regulation.

In that situation, UniView, Tiandy and TVT can become relevant alternatives, provided the exact products selected are supported by current manufacturer compliance documentation and satisfy the customer's contractual requirements.

Which NDAA Alternative Does Essential Security Supplies Recommend?

For an NZ installer wanting a straightforward professional platform for an NDAA-sensitive project, UniView is currently one of the strongest places to start.

The key reason is not simply camera technology. UniView publishes an extensive model-specific NDAA compliance list that was updated in August 2026. This provides an integrator with a clearer documentation trail when preparing a tender, equipment schedule or compliance submission.

UniView also provides a broad camera and NVR ecosystem covering everyday commercial CCTV, active deterrence, ANPR, panoramic surveillance, low-light imaging and larger installations.

TVT is another useful option, particularly for installers wanting a conventional professional camera-and-NVR architecture with a broad range of surveillance products and published NDAA information.

Tiandy is also worth considering where its technology and project pricing suit the installation, but exact-model verification should remain part of the quotation process.

NDAA CCTV Checklist for NZ Integrators

Avoid Writing “NDAA Compliant” Into a Quote Without Evidence

This is one area where installers should be conservative.

If a quotation states that a CCTV solution is NDAA compliant, that statement may become part of the customer's contractual expectations.

Do not rely on an old catalogue, distributor description or an assumption that every camera from a particular manufacturer has the same compliance status.

Use current manufacturer documentation, confirm the complete SKU and retain the evidence.

For larger tenders, it can also be sensible to provide the proposed equipment schedule to the customer's consultant, procurement team or contracting authority for acceptance before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NDAA-compliant CCTV mandatory in New Zealand?

No. NDAA is US legislation and does not impose a general requirement on New Zealand CCTV installations. Individual tenders, organisations, consultants or government-related projects can nevertheless specify NDAA compliance contractually.

Is Hikvision NDAA compliant?

Hikvision is specifically identified in FAR 52.204-25 for the covered video-surveillance applications defined by the regulation. It would therefore normally not be the appropriate platform where a customer expressly requires compliance with those Section 889 restrictions.

Is Dahua NDAA compliant?

Dahua Technology is also specifically identified within the relevant FAR provisions. The same procurement consideration therefore applies when a project expressly requires Section 889-compliant equipment.

Are Hikvision and Dahua banned in New Zealand?

No general New Zealand ban results from the US NDAA provisions discussed here. Customers, government agencies and other organisations may impose their own procurement or security requirements, so the applicable project specification must be checked.

Is UniView NDAA compliant?

UniView publishes a large model-specific compliance list. Many current cameras and NVRs appear on it, but installers should verify the exact model rather than assuming every UniView product automatically qualifies.

Is the UniView IPC2128SB-ADF28KMC-I0 NDAA compliant?

Yes. The exact IPC2128SB-ADF28KMC-I0 model appears on UniView's official compliance list updated in August 2026.

Is Tiandy NDAA compliant?

Tiandy publishes an official NDAA statement and compliance-product information. Because compliance can depend on the product, check Tiandy's current documentation for the exact model being quoted.

Is TVT NDAA compliant?

TVT publishes an NDAA Compliance Statement. Exact-model verification is still recommended before representing a camera, recorder or complete system as compliant.

Does a CCTV camera made in China automatically fail NDAA requirements?

No. Country of manufacture alone does not determine Section 889 status.

Does NDAA compliance mean a camera is cybersecure?

No. NDAA compliance relates to particular procurement restrictions. Firmware management, passwords, network architecture, remote access, vulnerability management and manufacturer support still need to be assessed separately.

Final Recommendation for NZ Security Integrators

NDAA compliance should be treated as a project and procurement requirement, not as a universal rating of CCTV quality.

For ordinary New Zealand installations where no Section 889 requirement exists, Hikvision, Dahua, UniView, Tiandy and TVT should be evaluated according to the technical, commercial and cyber-security needs of the project.

Where NDAA compliance is specifically required, the picture changes. Hikvision and Dahua are expressly identified within the relevant US regulation, while manufacturers such as UniView, Tiandy and TVT publish compliance information that can be considered when selecting alternative equipment.

Of these alternatives, UniView is particularly straightforward for specification work because of its extensive and recently updated model-specific compliance list.

The practical rule is simple: verify the exact camera model, verify the NVR, check the wider system and retain the current manufacturer documentation.

Essential Security Supplies can assist New Zealand security installers with UniView, Tiandy, TVT, Dahua and other professional surveillance equipment, including camera selection, NVR sizing, storage, PoE infrastructure and larger project specifications.

Technical References

• US Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.204-25 — Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.
• UniView — Statement on National Defense Authorization Act and model compliance list.
• Tiandy — Statement on National Defense Authorization Act.
• TVT Digital Technology — NDAA Compliance Statement.
• New Zealand Government Procurement — Managing National Security Risks in Procurement.
• New Zealand National Cyber Security Centre — Choosing Secure and Verifiable Technologies.