The New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has announced formal speed reviews for 16 sections of state highways across the country. This comes in response to community feedback following the release of a list of locations where speed limits were set to automatically revert to higher, pre-2020 levels under the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024.

The rule states that urban connectors with speed reductions since 1 January 2020 must return to their original, higher speed limits by 1 July 2025. However, the community has strongly voiced support for maintaining the current lower speed limits in some areas. In response, NZTA will now hold public consultations to reevaluate these speed limits and the safety implications involved .

Consultation Plans and Process

The formal consultation period for these reviews will open in early April 2025 and remain open for six weeks. NZTA will collect feedback from the public through an online survey and other channels. Following the consultation, NZTA will assess public input alongside technical data and cost-benefit analyses to reach final decisions on the speed limits in these areas. This process will impact urban connectors in regions including Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Manawatū-Whanganui, Canterbury, and the Top of the South .

Specific Sections Under Review

Some notable sections to be reviewed are:

SH1 Kaitaia North (Northland): Current limit 60 km/h, prior limit 100/70 km/h.

SH1C Hamilton (Waikato): Current limit 60 km/h, prior limit 80 km/h.

SH5 South Rotorua (Bay of Plenty): Current limit 50 km/h, prior limit 80 km/h.

SH35 Gisborne (Gisborne): Current limit 60 km/h, prior limit 80/70 km/h.

SH6 Marybank (Top of the South): Current limit 60 km/h, prior limit 100/80 km/h .

Decisions on these reviews will be finalized before the 1 July 2025 deadline. Separately, NZTA has already completed consultations on 49 other rural and interregional connector locations, which were also subject to the rules of automatic speed reversals. Decisions on these roads will also be implemented before July .

A Commitment to Safer Roads

NZTA’s efforts reflect its commitment to creating safer, more sustainable transport solutions for all New Zealanders. These reviews aim to balance safety, community needs, and cost-effectiveness while addressing the rising concerns around speed limits on state highways .