Top of the South speed management

Consultation now open for two urban connectors

2 April 2025

Speed review for SH6 Marybank and Wakefield

We are consulting on two ‘urban connector’ state highway locations, one in the Nelson region and the other in the Tasman region between 2 April – 14 May 2025, as part of a proposal to re-set lower speed limits.

We thank everyone for their feedback about the auto-reversal sections in the Nelson and Tasman region that are part of the transitional provisions under the new Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 (the Rule).

Under the Rule, specified sections of state highway, categorised as urban connectors with lowered speed limits, are required to automatically reverse to their higher speed limit by 1 July 2025. 

The speed limit on SH6 in Marybank was lowered to 60km/h in 2020 and in Wakefield North it was lowered to 60km/h in 2021. A new requirement under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 means these speed limits must now change to 80/100km/h in Marybank and 70km/h in Wakefield North by 1 July 2025.

After careful consideration, including past technical safety assessments and historic evidence of community support, NZTA is undertaking new formal reviews of speed limits for these two sections of SH6. The speed reviews include consultation, and will take into consideration safety, technical, cost benefit and other data, alongside community feedback to determine if we set the speed limit to a lower proposed speed limit of 60km/h.

Here’s what we’re consulting on:

• SH6 Marybank between Allisdair Street and Atawhai Crescent North
• SH6 Wakefield North between Bird Lane and Franklyn Close

We’d like your feedback by 5pm 14 May 2025. 

You can fill out our quick online survey here - COMPLETE THE SURVEY.

If you have already provided feedback on either of these sections of road and would like that feedback counted as your submission, please email speedmanagement@nzta.govt.nz or feel free to complete a new submission.

Interregional connector consultation

Thank you to everyone who has submitted on the consultation for the 7 sections of interregional connectors on State Highway 6 (SH6) between Blenheim and Nelson.

We are currently analysing the feedback we received and will share further information in the coming months.