Frontline police are livid the Eagle helicopter's heat-seeking camera has broken down, leaving it blind during night operations.
The camera had been in a state of disrepair for more than a year, and stopped working some weeks ago.
Since then, night time operations by the Eagle have been pared back as police are unable to use "hotspot" technology to track offenders and fleeing vehicles.
Auckland District Commander Superintendent Mike Clement said police were waiting for a replacement from the United States. It's understood it could be several weeks away. The forward looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, also used by the US military, are understood to cost about $800,000.