Reshaping Streets is a package of regulatory changes that will enable communities and local authorities (like councils) to work together to modify their existing streets to provide more space for people to move around using a variety or transport options.
It does this by giving councils the option to:
Reshaping Streets reduces administrative complexity for councils and makes it clearer to communities how councils will work with them to make any changes on the ground.
Most councils will need to embed Reshaping Streets into their processes before the rule changes can take effect in their region.
The Reshaping Streets changes do not eliminate the need for councils to work with their communities to implement street changes. Councils will still need to engage and consult effectively with their communities.
If you’d like to talk to us about Reshaping Streets, please email: rules@nzta.govt.nz
The Land Transport Rule which enables Reshaping Streets is called the Land Transport Rule: Street Layouts 2023.
Land Transport Rule: Street Layouts 2023
Community Streets, also known as Play Streets, will make it easier for local communities to work with councils to temporarily restrict traffic on quiet local streets.
Reshaping Streets will make it easier for residents to apply to host these kinds of events and make the approval framework clearer for councils. Residents can apply to host their event on a regular basis (e.g. once per month) for a period of up to 12 months.
Event organisers will need to consult with neighbours as part of the application process, and if approved, notification of events is required a minimum of four weeks in advance of the event. Councils may also impose conditions on residents hosting Community Streets to ensure that safety and traffic management considerations are catered for.
School Streets make it easier for communities to open up space around schools.
Councils, working alongside schools and communities, have the options to restrict traffic on streets outside schools during drop off and pick up times, allowing students more ability to travel to and from school independently.
Councils will have to consider a variety of factors when enabling school streets including alternative drop off points, bus routes, traffic levels and guidelines from schools and NZTA.
School Streets factsheet [PDF, 625 KB]
Street Pilots enable councils to pilot, or make short-term changes to streets, to test different street layouts and features. This allows communities to experience these changes in real time and provide feedback.
Reshaping Streets provides a clear framework to enable councils to run pilots with appropriate safeguards.
Pilots do not remove consultation requirements for new street layouts but give councils the ability to consult while the pilot is in place. They must notify the public at least four weeks before installation and provide a reasonable ability for feedback during the pilot. Councils can also modify pilots in response to consultation. Pilots can be installed for a maximum of 2 years.
Street Pilot fact sheet [PDF, 756 KB]
Reshaping Streets also enables councils to restrict or limit traffic in places like town centres, in neighbourhoods and around schools, including to prevent streets or parts of streets from being used as thoroughfares. Councils can use signage or physical barriers to restrict some types of vehicles from entering streets, reducing traffic.
To do this, councils must take account of the purpose of a road and can only filter or restrict traffic in certain situations.
Reshaping Streets does not override by-law-making powers, decision-making and consultation requirements, and appropriate signage will still be required when filtering or restricting traffic.
Filtering and restricting traffic factsheet [PDF, 505 KB]
Public consultation on the Reshaping Streets package of rule changes ran from August to September 2022.
Further changes were consulted on as part of the Reshaping Streets package of regulatory changes, including making the process for creating pedestrian malls more consistent with other types of street changes and simplifying the process for creating transport shelters (eg., bus shelters, as opposed to bus stops). We will update this page to reflect any progress as it happens.
