Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has set new permanent speed limits for SH33 and SH30 in the Bay of Plenty through Paengaroa and between Ōkere Falls and Rotokawa Road.
Between August and September 2019, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency consulted with stakeholders and the public on the safe and appropriate speed for State Highway 30 (SH30) / State Highway 33 (SH33) Rural Rotorua and Paengaroa in the Bay of Plenty region.
Waka Kotahi is always looking for ways to improve the safety of our roads. This route is included in the top 10% of the regional network which will result in the greatest reduction in death and serious injury through speed management, and there has been consistent support from local communities for a speed review in these areas.
Locals have told us their communities are severed by the highway. People feel unsafe and the speed limit needs to be lowered to reduce the number of crashes and make it safer, so locals can continue to do things like going to school or walking or cycling beside the state highway. Our priority is to make this road safer so that everyone using it can get where they are going safely and reliably.
The following speed limits were proposed during consultation and have been set as the new permanent speed limits. The new permanent speed limits take effect from Monday 29 June 2020.
| Location | Current speed limit | New speed limit (from 29 June 2020) |
|---|---|---|
| SH33 Paengaroa | 70km/h | 60km/h |
| From 120m north of Lemon Road to 110m south-west of Partridge Lane. | ||
| SH33 Okere Falls | 100km/h, 70km/h | 60km/h |
| From 390m north of Trout Pool Road to 1.57km south of Trout Pool Road. | ||
| SH33 Okere Falls south to Waipuna Bay | 100km/h | 80km/h |
| From 1.57km south of Trout Pool Road to 703m north-east of Hamurana Road. | ||
| SH33 Waipuna Bay, through Mourea, to Okawa Bay | 70km/h, 100km/h | 60km/h |
| From 703m north-east of Hamurana Road to 64m south of Okawa Bay Road. | ||
| SH33 Okawa Bay to Te Ngae Junction | 100km/h | 80km/h |
| From 64m south of Okawa Bay Road to the SH33/SH30 intersection. | ||
| SH30 Te Ngae Junction to Rotokawa Road | 100km/h | 80km/h |
| From 353m east of the SH33/SH30 intersection to 140m north of Rotokawa Road. | ||
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency considered all submissions received during consultation, completed our technical review process and made the decision to implement the Intersection Speed Zone.
The new the variable 60km/h Intersection Speed Zone at SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction Rotorua will come into effect on Monday 19 April 2021.
| Location | Current speed limit | New speed limit (from 29 June 2020) |
|---|---|---|
|
SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction – Intersection Speed Zone Extends 169m north of the SH33/SH30 intersection on SH33, and 138m south of the intersection on SH30. This will temporarily lower the speed limit to 60km/h when someone is turning right into or out of SH30 east. |
80km/h | 60km/h variable |
You can find out more about these intersections and how they work.
Intersection Speed Zones(external link)
Further safety improvement options are currently being considered to improve safety at this intersection.
SH33 Paengaroa
SH33/30 Okere Falls to Rotokawa Road
When determining the proposed speed limits that we consulted on, we reviewed the speeds that people are currently driving on this road, as well as the road itself. The speed limits of 60km/h and 80km/h were assessed to be the safe and appropriate speeds for the route.
The current speed limits vary from 100km/h along the rural open road sections to 70km/h through the rural towns (e.g. Paengaroa, Okere Falls and Mourea). A review of average travel speeds shows people are typically driving below or in excess of the current speed limits.
Other factors reviewed and considered were the increase in traffic volumes including heavy vehicles, domestic and international tourism and the current road and roadside environments along the corridor that do not match the various existing speed limits.
Five people died and 26 people were seriously injured in crashes on these roads between 2009 and 2018.
There are hazards like narrow road shoulders and steep drop offs or ditches on the roadside. There are more vehicles, including heavy vehicles, driving through areas where people live, as well in places popular for recreation, walking and cycling.
Lower permanent speed limits were needed to reduce the number of crashes and resulting deaths and serious injuries.
The new permanent speed limits will have minimal impact on travel times. Over the route, the increase in travel time will be approximately 30-90 seconds.
Find out more about the SH30 and SH33 permanent speed limits by reading the frequently asked questions.
Public consultation closed Monday 16 September 2019.
109 submissions were received during the consultation period from stakeholder organisations and the public.
More information about speed and the speed review process is available on the Speed Review Programme webpage.
