Formal consultation on safer speed limits for SH6

In late 2019 and early 2020 we engaged with the community, and asked businesses, stakeholders and road user groups how they feel about speeds along State Highway 6 (SH6) between Hope and Wakefield.

You can read a summary of this engagement here.

We have read all the feedback we received and considered these insights alongside a technical analysis of the road.

We are now formally consulting on a proposal to introduce safer speed limits on SH6 between Hope and Wakefield. This consultation outlines the proposed changes and provides an opportunity to tell us if there are any other factors we should consider when making our decision.

Each day around 11,500 vehicles travel between Hope and Brightwater, and 8,500 travel between Brightwater and Wakefield. With further developments these traffic volumes are expected to increase.

Between 2009 and 2018 there were a total of 98 crashes, including 17 serious crashes, on this section of SH6. Three people were killed and 18 people were left seriously injured by these crashes.

Speed limits between Hope and Wakefield are as high as 100km/h but the average speeds are much lower.

The proposed changes for SH6 between Hope and Wakefield

Proposed safer speed limits for SH6

We are proposing the following speed limits on SH6 between Hope and Wakefield:

• Hope township, approx. 320m south west of Norman Andrews Place to approx. 800m south west of Ranzau Road East - 60km/h (currently 70km/h)
• Hope to Brightwater, approx. 800m south west of Ranzau Road East to 300m south west of Clover Road - 80km/h (currently 100km/h)
• Brightwater township, approx. 300 south west of Clover Road to approx. 380m south west of River Terrace Road - 80km/h (no change)
• Brightwater to Wakefield North, approx. 380m south west of River Terrace Road to approx. 440m north east of Bird Lane - 80km/h (currently 100km/h)
• Wakefield North, approx. 440m north east of Bird Lane to approx. 310m north east of Franklyn Close - 60km/h (currently 70km/h)

How to make a formal submission

Prepaid consultation forms are being sent to homes, businesses and PO Boxes along SH6 from Hope and Wakefield, including the wider Brightwater and Wakefield communities. 

The consultation form can be completed and mailed to us for free, or emailed to tasman.speed.reviews@nzta.govt.nz

Further consultation forms are available online to be printed out. If you would like another form to be sent to you, please let us know by emailing tasman.speed.reviews@nzta.govt.nz

You can also click here to leave your feedback online.

The consultation period is now open, and we will be accepting submissions until 5pm on 18 December 2020.

The decision-making process

The consultation phase is used to seek any additional information and context that may help inform a final decision about the proposed speed limit changes. 

All formal submissions will be analysed and considered alongside our safety assessment before a final decision is made.

Once a final decision is made, it will be published on our website and an update is sent to anyone who wants to know the decision.

We look forward to receiving your submission.

More information

For more information on the SH6 Hope to Wakefield speed review project, visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/hope2wakefield