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Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024

Published: | Category: Setting of speed limits , Land transport rules | Audiences: General, Road controlling authorities

This rule sets out criteria, requirements and procedures to be followed by Road Controlling Authorities when reviewing and setting speed limits for roads within their respective jurisdictions.  It also revokes and replaces the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2022.

The stated objective of the rule is to contribute to an effective, efficient and safe land transport system by:

  • providing for an approach to speed management that considers speed limits alongside safety infrastructure and safety camera enforcement; and
  • empowering or requiring road controlling authorities to set speed limits for roads under their control, generally after considering safety, economic impacts and the views of road users and the community; and
  • setting out requirements road controlling authorities must comply with when setting speed limit.

The rule sets out the ways Road Controlling Authorities can propose, consult and set speed limits, including how these proposals are developed, shared and certified.

The rule also sets out the process sets for reversing previous speed limits, preparing speed management plans, the roles and responsibilities for the process, and the required content of speed management plans.

The Ministry of Transport led the development of this rule, with assistance from the NZTA.

The rule was notified in the Gazette on 30 September 2024 and came into force on 30 October 2024.

If you have any feedback on the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024, please email speedrule@transport.govt.nz

If you have any questions about implementation of the new rule, please email speedmanagementprogramme@nzta.govt.nz

Rule versions

  • The ‘Current rule’ provides the most up-to-date version of the rule and any amendments made to it. We recommend using this as your reference point if you want to read the most current information.
  • The ‘Original rule’ shows the very first version of the rule, as it was when first introduced.
  • ‘Amendments’ provides links to all changes made to the rule over time. These are useful if you want to research the history of the rule.

Note: Each link also includes access to consultation materials, such as summaries of submissions and frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to each version and amendment.

Questions and answers

Questions and answers are provided to accompany a new rule or amendment when they are signed. These and other consultation documents on this page have not been updated to take into account any later rule amendments and are retained for historic interest only.

Publication details

  • Author:
  • Published: September 2024
  • Also known as: Setting of the Speed Limits Rule

Current rule

Setting of Speed Limits 2024 (as at 15 January 2025) [PDF, 450 KB]

As lead agency on this rule, the Ministry of Transport published a draft version of the rule, along with explanatory material on its website for public consultation on 13 June 2024.  Consultation ran for four weeks until 11 July 2024.  The Ministry, with some assistance from the NZTA, analysed and considered consultation submissions. The summary of submissions from the 2024 consultation has been published on the Ministry's website:

Ministry of Transport - Summary of submissions document(external link)