Following the Minister of Transport’s announcement confirming the new Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024, NZTA will identify how the Rule may impact speeds on its network.
NZTA as road controlling authority for state highways will work through what the new rule means for each region and will provide further information in the coming weeks.
Government delivers sensible approach to speed limits(external link)
In December 2023, the Minister of Transport Hon Simeon Brown confirmed that work was underway to develop a new Land Transport Rule for setting speed limits. In anticipation of the new Rule, we paused work on our speed management plans.
As information on the proposed 2024 Rule has been released, we have been working through what it means for speed limit proposals within the Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan. In some cases, we have been progressing selected proposals to approval separately to the Plan.
Approval and implementation for some proposals may progress ahead of others due to consideration against the intent of the new Rule, confirmation of funding for delivery, and other internal processes. We may pause activity where there are potential conflicts with the new Rule until we have more clarity.
We will provide updates on outstanding proposals after decisions have been made via our website and notify people who provided feedback on the proposals during consultation.
Beehive media release - 12 December 2023: Government changes speed limit rules(external link)
Following our analysis and conversations with partners, interested groups and organisations, we propose the following new speed limits:
View larger map and speed limit tables [PDF, 904 KB]
| State highway | School | Existing speed limit (km/h) | Proposed new speed limit (km/h) *variable |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | St Patrick's School (Masterton) | 50 | 50/30* | |
| 2 | Hadlow Preparatory School | 50 | 50/30* | |
| 2/53 | Featherston School | 50 | 50/30* | |
| 59 | Pukerua Bay School | 50 | 50/30* | |
These new speed limits will help us take steps towards a safe system by ensuring state highways with a school entry point have speeds reduced to care for children travelling to and from school.
Close| State highway | Reference number (refer to map) | Location | Description | Existing speed limit (km/h) | Proposed new speed limit (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | SH1 Ngāūranga northbound on-ramp including links | Hutt Road to SH1 | 80 | 50 |
| 1 | 2 | SH1 Ngāūranga southbound off-ramp including links | SH1 to Hutt Road | 80 | 50 |
| 2 | 1 | SH2 Ngāūranga southbound off-ramp including links | SH2 to Hutt Road | 80 | 50 |
| 2 | 2 | SH2 Ngāūranga northbound on-ramp including links | Hutt Road to SH2 | 80 | 50 |
These new speed limits will help us take steps towards a safe system by integrating with speed changes to be proposed on Hutt Road and Thorndon Quay as part of the Let’s Get Wellington Moving project to provide safe and reliable travel choices for everyone, consistent with Wellington City Council’s approach to speed management.
Close| State highway | Reference number (refer to map) | Location | Description | Existing speed limit (km/h) *variable |
Proposed new speed limit (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | Masterton north | Cashmere Oaks Drive to Paierau Road | 100 | 80 |
| 2 | 4 | Carterton variable speed area - removal | Removal of intersection speed zone at intersection between SH2 and East Taratahi Road | 100/70* | 80 |
| 2 | 5 | Featherston south | West of Renall St to northwest of Renall Street | 100 | 80 |
| 2 | 6 | Remutaka Hill | Northwest of Renall St to south of Marchant Road | 100 | 60 |
| 2 | 7 | Kaitoke to Te Mārua (Upper Hutt) | South of Marchant Road to northeast of Twin Lakes Road | 100 | 80 |
| 2 | 8 | Brown Owl urban | North of Akatarawa Road to west of Mangaroa Hill Road | 70 | 50 |
| 2 | 9 | Moonshine Hill Road | East of Moonshine Hill Road to west of Moonshine Hill Road – northbound only | 100 | 60 |
| 2 | 10 | Owen Street to Grounsell Crescent | In both directions for Owen Street to Grounsell Crescent | 100 | 80 |
These new speed limits will help us take steps towards a safe system by:
| Reference | Reference number (refer to map) | Location | Description | Existing speed limit (km/h) | Proposed new speed limit (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressway | N/A | N/A | 100 |
| 1 | 4 | Ōtaki southbound off-ramp | North end of Ōtaki | N/A | 50 |
| 1 | 5 | Ōtaki northbound on-ramp | North end of Ōtaki | N/A | 50 |
| 1 | 6 | Ōtaki southbound on-ramp | On Ōtaki Gorge Road | N/A | 60 |
| 1 | 7 | Ōtaki northbound off-ramp | On Ōtaki Gorge Road | N/A | 60 |
| 1 | 8 | Taylors Road to Waitohu Valley Road | N/A | 100 | 60 |
| 1 | 9 | Mill Road roundabout to Waerenga Road | N/A | 50 | 40 |
| 1 | 10 | Waerenga Road to Riverbank Road | N/A | 70 | 50 |
| 1 | 11 | Riverbank Road to Ōtaki Gorge Road | N/A | 100 | 60 |
| 1 | 12 | Ōtaki Gorge Road to Te Horo | N/A | 100 | 80 |
| 1 | 13 | Te Horo to Te Kowhai Road | N/A | 100 | 80 |
| 1 | 14 | Peka Peka to Hemi Street | N/A | 100 | 80 |
| 1 | 15 | Ihakara Street to Raumati Road | N/A | Various | 50 |
| 1 | 16 | Raumati Road to SH1 | N/A | 100 | 80 |
| 1 | 17 | Poplar Avenue southbound on-ramp | N/A | 100 | 80 |
| 1 | 18 | Poplar Avenue northbound off-ramp | N/A | 100 | 80 |
| 1 | 19 | Poplar Avenue interchange | N/A | 100 | 80 |
These new speed limits will help us take steps towards a safe system by:
The following speed limits have been approved by the Director of Land Transport.
Due to the urgency of some speed limits related to specific operational needs, we have progressed the following section via an alternative process, separately from the Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan.
View the latest update on the Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan
We’re currently in the process of transferring ownership and management of the Mackays to Peka Peka section of old SH1 to Kāpiti Coast District Council. Along with completing several works to make sure the road is fit-for-purpose, we’re also making sure the speeds are appropriate for its new status as a local road.
The following new permanent speed limits are currently in place under temporary traffic management and will now become permanent.
| Location | Existing speed limit* | New permanent speed limit |
| Ihakara Street to Raumati Road | Various | 50 |
| Raumati Road to SH1 | 100 | 80 |
| Poplar Avenue southbound on-ramp | 100 | 80 |
| Poplar Avenue northbound off-ramp | 100 | 80 |
| Poplar Avenue interchange | 100 | 80 |
* While these are the official existing speed limit, all sections are currently under a temporary speed limit aligned with the new permanent speed limits.
Consultation on the Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan closed on 12 December 2022.
