Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has announced the outcome of speed limit reviews recently completed on 16 ‘urban connector’ sections of state highway.
The speed reviews were undertaken on 16 of 38 sections of state highway which were required to automatically reverse to previous higher speed limits under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024, but where NZTA received strong community and stakeholder feedback on a preference to retain the lower speeds.
Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024
After considering all of the safety, technical, cost and consultation information, including whether the road environment had changed and become more urban since original speed limits were changed in the past few years, NZTA has confirmed that 13 of the 16 sections will retain their lower speeds limits.
The majority of these locations are short stretches of state highway heading into or out of small townships, where drivers are already naturally slowing down, and the environment is more suited to the lower speed limit consulted on.
In some of these locations considerable population growth has occurred in recent years, and in other areas the road environment has changed, with large numbers of driveways, many public amenities and high pedestrian usage, including at schools and marae nearby.
In making its decisions, NZTA assessed the findings of a range of factors including a formal Cost Benefit Disclosure Statement (CBDS), safety and technical information, alongside consultation feedback from both stakeholders and the wider public.
After considering all of the criteria, NZTA has confirmed that speed limits will increase on three of the 16 sections:
- In Rotorua, speed limits on SH30 and SH30A will be increased to 60km/h, making speed limits more consistent with surrounding roads, reducing driver confusion and the need for frequent speed limit changes over short distances
- In Turangi, on SH1, the section proposed to have a lower speed limit of 60km/h will be shortened, while the remaining section will reverse to the previous higher speed of 100km/h as required by the Rule.
These changes will come into effect by 1 July 2025, as required by the Rule.
The full list of 16 sites and the speed review outcome can be found on the NZTA website:
