Last updated 11 October 2024
Why are you changing speed limits?
As a road controlling authority, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has a responsibility to set safe and appropriate speed limits to maintain the state highway network.
What are the new approved speed limits?
In December 2023, the Director of Land Transport (DoLT) approved the following speed limit changes in Northland and north Auckland:
- SH1 Pukenui to Kaitaia (effective from 4 March 2024)
- SH15 Kaikohe to Otaika (effective from 13 May 2024)
- SH14 Dargaville to Whangārei (and SH15 through Maungatapere township)
- SH1 Kawakawa to Whangārei
- SH11 Kawakawa to Paihia
- SH1 Whangārei to Te Hana
- SH12 Ōmāpere to Kaikohe
- SH12 Brynderwyn to Ōmāpere
- SH16 Wellsford to Waimauku
- SH1 Te Hana to Warkworth
- SH10 Pakaraka to Taipa.
With the new Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 effective from 30 October 2024 we are working through the impact of the new Rule on our plans to implement these approved changes.
Will there be speed limit changes along the entire state highway corridor?
Speed limit changes target short sections through townships and close to schools and marae and do not affect the entire stretch of state highway.
What is a variable speed limit (VSL) and how does it work outside schools?
Variable speed limits (VSL) outside schools help to slow traffic down when people are travelling to and from school. Electronic VSL signs are activated during peak school travel periods to display a lower, enforceable speed limit.
When the electronic sign is active the legal speed limit of 30 or 60 km/h is displayed when children are going to and from school at the start and end of the school day. At all other times, the electronic sign is blank, and the permanent speed limit applies.
When will the new speed limits apply?
We have used a phased approach to implement approved speed limit changes, starting with SH1 Pukenui to Kaitaia which was implemented on 4 March 2024, and SH15 Kaikohe to Otaika, implemented on 13 May 2024. Small sections of SH11 between Kawakawa and Paihia and SH1 between Kawakawa and Whangārei was implemented from 24 June 2024. The next changes are on short sections of State Highway 1 between Te Hana and Whangārei, State Highway 14 between Dargaville and Whangārei and on SH15 through Maungatapere.
With the new Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 effective from 30 October 2024 we are working through the impact of the new Rule on our plans to implement these approved changes.
Implementing the new speed limits
How are you notifying people about the speed limit changes?
We let people know about the changes via a targeted communications campaign including letters and emails, and updates to our project webpage. Keep an eye on our website for updated information.
Did you consult with the public on these changes?
In May and June 2022, we consulted with stakeholders and the public on the safe and appropriate speed for new proposed speed limits at schools and townships on 11 corridors of state highway in Northland and north Auckland. This included collaborating with iwi and hapū on signage for marae.
We received 653 submissions.
How were these speed limits decided?
To change a speed limit, we must follow a legal process that involves a number of steps.
Ongoing engagement
While technical advice is an important part of speed reviews, local knowledge and experience of using our roads is also vital to this process. We want all communities to have a chance to give their feedback on how safety interventions can be managed in their area, and on any proposed changes to speed limits.;
We actively seek input and feedback from our Māori and local government partners, key stakeholders and the community. It’s these conversations that help us get valuable insights and local knowledge on how people use the road, and their concerns around road safety.
We consider people’s feedback alongside the technical information that our road safety specialists have collated to help us decide how we are best to manage safety on our roads and ensure speed limits are safe and appropriate for all road users.
Formal consultation on proposed speed limit changes
The formal consultation step is where we show people how we plan to manage speeds on our roads, including proposed speed limit changes. These changes have been developed and refined using the technical information as well as feedback gathered from our engagement with people.
During this consultation stage, we ask people if they have any additional information we should consider, that might have an impact on our final decision. We consider people’s feedback alongside our technical information to finalise our proposed speed limit changes.
Approval of speed limit changes
We submit our proposed speed limit changes to the Director of Land Transport for approval, and publish the approval on our website.
New speed limits implemented
We let people know the date speed limits will change, we install the new speed limit signs on the road, then implement the new speed limits.
There is more information on our speed review process on our website.
