A new approach to setting speed limits on New Zealand roads has been finalised by the Government and came into force on 30 October 2024.
The new Rule sets out how speed limits on New Zealand roads will be managed in a way that supports economic growth, boosts productivity, and enables people to get to where they are going efficiently and safely.
The Rule supports a targeted approach to speed management by focusing future speed reviews on areas of high safety concern, supporting NZ Police to meet speed-related enforcement targets and using variable speed limits outside schools. It also standardises road classes and their speed limits, specifying speed limit ranges for each road type.
To introduce the new Rule, a once -off ‘transition’ exercise was required to reverse speeds on specified roads, by 1 July 2025.
The 2024 Rule also updates a range of processes under the 2022 Rule, including 3 yearly speed management planning for all RCAs, requirements for speeds around schools, and consulting with the public.
As the state highway Road Controlling Authority (RCA), NZTA is responsible for implementing the Rule’s requirements on our state highway network. Other RCAs including councils are responsible for local roads.
