Connect Rotorua

5 March 2025

Project team members talking through plans for the site with community and mana whenua representatives.

Traffic signals get the green light at SH30 Te Ngae Road / Wharenui Road intersection

If you’re travelling down State Highway 30 (SH30) Te Ngae Road near Wharenui Road, you’ll see that work is now underway to upgrade and install traffic lights at this intersection.

Upgrading this intersection is the final section of works in the current phase of the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) SH30 Eastern Corridor improvements programme that will improve journey reliability and safety, and support growth in Rotorua east.

This work began in February 2025 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2025.

By widening Wharenui Road at the intersection and controlling turning movements, we’ll increase capacity and reduce queuing. Drivers will then be able to use dedicated right turn bays from Wharenui Road and from SH30 into the Ōwhata Medical Centre.

If you’re walking, cycling or scootering you will be able to cross both Wharenui Road and SH30 Te Ngae Road safely at the signalised crossings and by using the shared path that is being widened in this area.

While the work is ongoing, a temporary speed limit of 30km/h is in place on SH30 Te Ngae Road through the work zone.

Temporary footpaths will be available and clearly signposted and may change depending on the work zone.

A temporary pedestrian refuge will be installed opposite the alleyway to Reeve Road outside 509 Te Ngae Road for use when the footpaths are closed. Pedestrians can also use the existing signalised crossing near the Tiaho Medical Centre near Sunrise Avenue to the north.

As most of the construction work will take place on Wharenui Road, a short section of Wharenui Road, between SH30 Te Ngae Road and Reeve Road/Glenfield Road, will remain closed to through-traffic until the project is completed. All vehicles will need to use Brent Road or Coulter Road to access the closed section or eastern Wharenui Road, Reeve Road and Glenfield Road, and any connected roads.

NZTA thanks residents and road users for their patience and compliance with temporary traffic management while this work is underway.

Plan ahead for power lines work

Road users should expect delays on SH30 Te Ngae Road Wednesday 12 March while contractors remove overhead power lines near the Wharenui Road intersection.

This work will be done during the day outside of peak travel times to minimise disruption. For road user safety, SH30 will be closed for short periods under stop/stop traffic management so the overhead work can be safely done. Traffic flow will return to normal between the brief closures.

This is part of the SH30 and Wharenui Road intersection project where traffic lights are being installed. As part of that, Wharenui Road is closed to traffic at the intersection and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h is in place on SH30 Te Ngae Road through the work zone.

We ask for your patience and compliance to ensure the safety of our workers and other road users navigating the site.

This work is currently scheduled for Wednesday 12 March but is weather dependent and may change at short notice. People are encouraged to visit NZTA Journey Planner for up-to-date information.

Line marking
You will also see some new line marking soon between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. This permanent line marking completes earlier works.

Future phases of the long term SH30 Eastern Corridor project – including 4-laning of sections of the road between Basley Road and Rotorua Airport – will be delivered in response to growth along the state highway and are currently unfunded.

Bus shelters design reflect local environment

Three new bus shelters featuring mahi toi (artwork) reflecting the local cultural environment were installed in December along SH30 Te Ngae Road.

Each of these shelters features artwork designed by artist Kereama Taepa.

Kereama explains the kaupapa (principles) of his design:

“There is a hill close by on the shore of the lake named Owhatiura. This hill is where Kahumatamomoe sat down on his cloak Whatiura and gazed over his new found domain - the land that had been gifted him from his nephew Īhenga.”

Kereama says his design “comes from the idea of the cloak providing some cover and protecting the people who are waiting in the shelter.”

The bus shelters are made of a welded aluminium frame with patterns often seen within customary cloaks and especially tāniko - namely aramoana and poutama. Timber detailing has been added to further personalise the shelters to the local community.

Laminated glass is used for the upper panels, providing good visibility through the shelter, so that approaching bus drivers can see if anyone is waiting and so that people waiting within the shelter can feel secure and see anyone approaching or standing nearby.

Each shelter has both a bench seat and a standing area. The seats allow people to feel comfortable waiting for a bus, while the standing space allows more people to shelter in the space and accommodates those using mobility devices.

Speed Management in the Bay of Plenty - consultation closes 13 March

A new approach to setting speed limits on New Zealand roads was finalised by the Government and came into force on 30 October 2024. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport recently announced the changes to speed limits in NZ.

We are currently consulting on some roads (interregional connectors and rural connectors) to determine if there is public support to retain the current speed limits on these sections, rather than see them automatically reverse. Consultation closes on 13 March 2025. Following this, we will review the feedback and make decisions about whether support levels mean we will retain the lower speeds or reverse them.

In the Bay of Plenty region, the consultation is open on the following highways:

• SH30 Rotorua to Whakatāne
• SH30/SH33/SH5 Rotorua Eastern Corridor
• SH5 Waiotapu
• SH2 Katikati to Te Puna.

Submissions can be made using the short survey which is on our website.

If you would like to make a submission on other areas outside of the Bay of Plenty, you can find details of other consultations on our website (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Automatic reversals 

As part of the introduction of the Rule, some permanent speed limits that were lowered in recent years on certain types of roads are required to automatically reverse by July 2025. Our website also has the list of all the state highways affected by speed reversals in the 2024 Speed Rule. This list may be subject to change as we work through the speed reversals process.

The sections of Bay of Plenty highways which will have speed limits auto-reversed are:

• 2.91km of SH5 South Rotorua from northwest of Malfroy Road to south of the SH5/SH30 Old Taupō Road/Hemo Road roundabout – changes from 50km/h to 80km/h
• 3.8km of SH30 Whakarewarewa to Tihiotonga from centre of SH5/SH30 Old Taupō Road/Hemo Road roundabout to northeast of Tarawera Road – changes from 50km/h back to old speeds of 50, 60, 70 and 80km/h
• 0.94km of SH30 Coastlands Urban from west of the centre of the SH30/ Gateway Drive/Phoenix Drive roundabout to north of the northern abutment of the Whakatāne Bridge – changes from 60km/h to 80km/h
• 0.15km of SH30A from west SH30/SH30A intersection to SH30A eastern termination point – changes from 50km/h to 70km/h

Please note, feedback on the corridors where speeds are to be automatically reversed or where current speeds are kept (see below) is outside the scope of the current consultation and cannot be captured in the consultation survey form in the link given above. Instead, we encourage you to email us if you have thoughts on these auto-reversals (noting the state highway you are referring to). We will then be able to include this feedback as we consider future speed reviews, subject to funding being available.

State highways where speeds won't change

There are some sections of state highways where speeds were changed recently but, due to their classification, will not change. These can be found in the table below.

Please note, feedback on the corridors where speeds are to be automatically reversed or where current speeds are kept is outside the scope of the current consultation and cannot be captured in the consultation survey form in the link given above. Instead, we encourage you to email us if you have thoughts on these auto-reversals (noting the state highway you are referring to). We will then be able to include this feedback as we consider future speed reviews, subject to funding being available.

Bay of Plenty state highway speed limits that will not change

While the sun shines the road work goes on

When the sun continues to shine, road workers across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty are continuing to make significant progress on many worksites.

NZTA and its contractors are completing an ambitious programme to improve safety and resilience of the state highway network, making the most of the summer months in which they’re able to reseal and re-construct roads.

Those travelling on State Highway 5 between Rotorua and Tīrau will find 2 major road rebuilds and should allow extra time when planning their journeys through this section of state highway. The first is for about 2kms on SH5 just west of Oturoa Road Mamaku, with the second just east of Tapapa. Both are expected to be completed in April.

While resealing is underway on SH5/SH28 near Tapapa, a right-turn bay will be created for those turning into Waimakariri Road from the state highway. The work will include some road widening at the T-intersection before the new turning bay is line marked.

A road rebuild is also underway on SH36, Te Pu north of Dudley Road and should be finished in early April. This work is taking place each weekday, as the weather allows. During morning and afternoon peaks, traffic flow is prioritised. Longer delays may occur out of peak times.

We appreciate everyone’s patience, especially where we have road closures and detours, or multiple worksites in the same area.

This scale of work shows our investment in the region, and commitment to improving people’s journeys. It forms part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund.

To plan ahead and see where disruptive works are, people can use the NZTA Journey Planner. This is kept up to date in real time so you can see all disruptive activity and potential hazards on the state highway network.

SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru project update

The accelerated maintenance project on SH1 between Tīrau and Waiouru is well underway,

With 2 new closures in place on SH1 from early March there may be more traffic, particularly heavy vehicles, using SH5 through Rotorua. The closures between Putāruru and Lichfield and between Ātiamuri and Wairakei allow work to get done as quickly as possible.

Businesses within the work zones remain open – our crews will facilitate access to them, so please continue to support them.

Further south on SH1 the maintenance work is progressing well and the Desert Road had a partial re-opening between Tūrangi to Rangipō a couple of weeks ago - ahead of schedule.

The partial opening allows people in light vehicles to use SH1 to the SH1/SH46 intersection and access SH46 to connect to SH47.  SH46 is not heavy vehicle (HMPV) approved. A permit is required. The Desert Road work is on track to be completed by mid-March.

Full details of the closures and detours can be found in the SH1 Tirau to Waiouru project newsletter.

Crankworx Rotorua

This annual 5-day mountain bike event begins on Wednesday 5 March so expect more people to be out and about on bikes or walking and more vehicles on SH5 in Fairy Springs Rotorua.

With locals and visitors alike flocking to the event, traffic can become congested. We encourage you to bike, walk or use public transport when you can.

Temporary traffic management will be in place throughout the event to assist visitors attending the event in finding parking and ensuring residents can enter and exit their properties safely.

Heading east? Plan before you leave

State Highway 2 (SH2) east of Whakatāne is getting some maintenance attention this week so plan ahead before you head that way.

SH2 Waimana Gorge will be closed from Monday 3 to Friday 7 March from 10am to 6pm each day with crews laying a new asphalt road surface and completing maintenance activities. Outside of work hours temporary traffic management will be in place with a reduced speed limited until the new surface has been line marked.

By closing the Waimana Gorge completely for this time contractors can complete the work more efficiently and safely.

Further east near the SH2 and Wainui Road intersection, near Kutarere west of Ōpōtiki, service relocation works are underway. Road users should be aware there may be 3-way stop/go traffic management operating at the intersection during this time.

More information

For more information on Connect Rotorua, contact us at ConnectRotorua@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website nzta.govt.nz/connect-rotorua