Safer speeds on select locations on Northland and North Auckland state highways

As a road controlling authority, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has a responsibility to set safe and appropriate speed limits to maintain the state highway network.

Following approval from the Director of Land Transport, NZTA will implement changes to speed limits on short sections of the following state highways as part of the Northland and north Auckland speed review project:

• SH1 Pukenui to Kaitaia
• SH15 from SH1 (north of Kaikohe) to Otaika
• SH14 Dargaville to Whangārei
• SH1 Kawakawa to Whangārei
• SH11 Kawakawa to Paihia
• SH1 Whangārei to Te Hana
• SH12 Ōmāpere to Kaikohe
• SH12 Brynderwyn to Ōmāpere
• SH16 Wellsford to Waimauku
• SH1 Te Hana to Warkworth
• SH10 Pakaraka to Taipa

These speed limit changes will not affect the entire stretch of state highway and instead, changes will be targeted to short sections; through townships and close to schools and marae. Maps have been developed to show where the changes will happen and what the new speed limit will be.

NZTA will start to implement changes to sections of the approved state highways. In total, this includes 54 new permanent speed limit changes and new electronic (variable speed limit) signs across 34 schools. Changes also affect speed limits alongside 7 marae.

All decisions have been informed by detailed technical assessments to check the road environment, layout and use, and by extensive consultation with the community, iwi/hapu partners, and stakeholders to provide valuable information about how communities use our roads. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to input into our speed review process.

Read the Consultation Summary from the May – June 2022 engagement period.

Phased roll-out starting with SH1 Pukenui to Kaitaia

NZTA will use a phased approach to implement approved speed limit changes, starting with sections of SH1 between Pukenui and Kaitaia. Changes will apply from 4 March 2024 and include permanent speed limit changes to 5 sections of state highway and new electronic variable speed limit (VSL) signs at Waiharara School and Awanui School, operating during school peak times. 

A map showing the approved speed limit changes for SH1 Pukenui to Kaitaia can be found here.

Construction activity includes work to install poles, signs, and technology along sections of the state highway network to clearly outline the new speed changes. Speed limit changes on the remaining state highways are expected to be delivered by the end of 2024. NZTA will provide prior notification to communities and stakeholders in advance of any changes.

Safe speeds around schools

As part of these changes, we plan to implement variable speed limits at 34 schools in Northland and north Auckland by the end of 2024. Variable speed limits (VSL) outside schools help to slow traffic down when people are travelling to and from school.

Electronic VSL signs can be activated during school travel periods to display a lower, enforceable speed limit. When the electronic sign is active the legal speed limit of 30 or 60 km/h will be displayed when children are going to and from school at the start and end of the school day. At all other times, the electronic sign is blank and the permanent speed limit applies.

More information

For more information on how NZTA is considering speed management, including maps of the approved speed limit changes, and a summary of the public consultation, please visit our project webpage Northland and north Auckland speed reviews. 

You can also send us an email: speedmanagement@nzta.govt.nz