Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
To help keep young New Zealanders safe, variable speed limits are coming into force outside schools on state highways in Northland and north Auckland, targeting the times when children are most active around our schools.
As part of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) School Speed Limit Programme, electronic variable speed limit signs will display a variable speed limit during peak school traffic times to slow traffic past the school, with the next group of signs in the region going live this week.
“Setting safe speed limits around schools improves safety for all tamariki and whānau as they come in and out of school,” says Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations, Jacqui Hori-Hoult.
It’s part of the Government’s new approach to setting speed limits on New Zealand roads, which came into force on 30 October 2024.
Under the new rule, by the 1 July 2026, schools that have gates alongside a state highway must have variable speed limits of 60km/h or lower depending on the road environment the school is located on.
Variable speed limits are displayed on electronic signs that can be switched on and off at specific times.
“The lower speeds will be set during school drop-off and pick-up times and are enforceable.
“The school and NZTA may also turn the signs on for activities such as late starts, or early finish times, or school functions, when there is similar risk to tamariki.” Ms Hori-Hoult says.
When operating, the variable speed limit will appear on a flashing electronic sign. If the sign is not turned on, the normal permanent speed limit applies.
The next batch of school variable speed limits for Northland and North Auckland will be going live week beginning Monday 24 November, with the remaining ones during the first half of 2026, as shown in this table:
|
School name |
State Highway |
Variable speed limit (at peak school travel times) (km/h) |
Speed limit at all other times (km/h) |
Expected “go-live” date of variable speed limit |
|
Aranga School |
SH12 |
60 |
100 |
Start of Term 1 2026 |
|
Kaeo School and Whangaroa College |
SH10 |
30 |
70 |
Start of Term 1 2026 – subject to certification |
|
Kaingaroa School |
SH10 |
30 |
60 |
Start of Term 1 2026 – subject to certification |
|
Maungatūroto School |
SH12 |
30 |
50 |
Start of Term 1 2026 |
|
Ōtamatea Christian School |
SH12 |
30 |
50 |
Start of Term 1 2026 |
|
Ngātaki School |
SH1 |
30 |
100 |
Week beginning 24 Nov 2025 |
|
Ōpononi School |
SH12 |
30 |
50 |
Start of Term 1 2026 |
|
Oruaiti School |
SH10 |
30 |
100 |
Week beginning 24 Nov 2025 |
|
Pākaraka School |
SH10/SH1 |
60/60* |
100 |
Week beginning 24 Nov 2025 |
|
Pāmapūria School |
SH1 |
60 |
100 |
Week beginning 24 Nov 2025 |
|
Rodney School |
SH1 |
30 |
50 |
Start of Term 1 2026 |
|
Ruawai College and Ruawai School |
SH12 |
30 |
80 |
Start of Term 1 2026 |
|
Taipā Area School |
SH10 |
30 |
60 |
Start of Term 1 2026 – subject to certification |
|
Te Kura o Te Kao |
SH1 |
30 |
70 |
Week beginning 24 Nov 2025 |
|
Te Kura o Hato Hōhepa Te Kāmura |
SH10 |
60 |
100 |
Start of Term 1 2026 |
|
Umawera School |
SH1 |
60 |
100 |
Week beginning 24 Nov 2025 |
|
Woodhill School |
SH16 |
30 |
100 |
Week beginning 24 Nov 2025 |
* No change to existing VSL of 60km/h on SH1 past Pākaraka School.
The variable speed limits came into effect outside 7 schools in the Coromandel Peninsula in late August. Schools in other parts of New Zealand will follow from December 2025 (around 200 in total).
