Speed limit changes for Whangaroa and Northern rural roads
Starting Monday, drivers in Whangaroa and surrounding rural areas will see changes to speed limits on local roads aimed at improving road safety for all users.
The changes are the final speed limit reductions to be implemented under the Bay of Islands-Kerikeri Speed Limit Review. This assessed more than 300 roads covering 321km within the wider Kerikeri catchment. It followed public consultation conducted in 2022 that attracted 253 submissions on proposed speed limit changes – two-thirds of which supported or partially supported new speed limits in the area. The submissions were considered at a formal hearing in March last year.
Roads that will have new speed limits from Monday are:
Whangaroa changes:
- Kent Street (Whangaroa): 50km/h to 30km/h
- Lewer Street: 100km/h to 30km/h
- McKenzie Road (Whangaroa): 50km/h to 30km/h
- Old Church Road (Service Lane): 50km/h to 30km/h
- Old Church Road (Whangaroa): 50km/h to 30km/h
- Old Hospital Road: 50km/h to 30km/h
- Ruato Road: 50km/h to 30km/h
- Whangaroa Road (approximately 50m west of Wainui Road intersection to 50m west of Kent Street): 100km/h to 50km/h
- Whangaroa Road (from 50m west of Kent Street to end): 50km/h to 30km/h
Northern rural connectors:
- Atwell Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Cavalli View Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Hauriri Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Hikurua Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Huia Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Leacock Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Mahinepua Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Martin Road (Kāeo): 100km/h to 60km/h
- Matangirau School Road: 100km/h to 40km/h
- Matauri Bay Road: 100km/h to 80km/h
- Matauri Beach Road: 100km/h to 40km/h
- Matauri Beach Road (Matauri X): 100km/h to 40km/h
- Matauri Link Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- McGee Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Ohakiri Way: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Ota Point Road (Wainui Road to 100m before 103 Ota Point Road): 100km/h to 80km/h
- Ota Point Road (100m before 103 Ota Point Road to end): 100km/h to 40km/h
- Otaha Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Porters Access Road: 100km/h to 40km/h
- Porters Access Road Extension: 100km/h to 40km/h
- Takou Bay Road (SH10 to Otaha Road): 100km/h to 80km/h
- Takou Bay Road (Otaha Road to end): 100km/h to 60km/h
- Taraire Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Tauranga Bay Road (Wainui Road to Tauranga Bay Beach Road): 100km/h to 60km/h
- Tauranga Bay Road (Tauranga Bay Beach Road to end): 50km/h to 40km/h
- Tauranga Bay Beach Road (20m before campground to end): 50km/h to 30km/h
- Te Ra Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Te Tapui Road: 100km/h to 40km/h
- Tepene Tablelands Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Thompsons Access: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Waikoura Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Wainui Road (Matauri Bay Rd to Tauranga Bay Road): 100km/h to 60km/h
- Wainui Road (Whakarara Rd - Variable School Zone): 100km/h to Variable 60/30
- Wainui Road (South East of One Lane Bridge to the current boundary): 50km/h to 30km/h
- Wainui Road (Tauranga Bay Rodd to Whangaroa): 100km/h to 80km/h
- Wainui Valley Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Waitapu Creek Road: 100km/h to 60km/h
- Whangaroa Road (SH10 to Wainui Rd): 100km/h to 80km/h
None of these speed limit changes will be impacted by the government’s proposed reversal of set speed limits. The Bay of Islands-Kerikeri and Whangaroa speed reviews did not take the “blanket” approach singled out for review. Each road was assessed individually, and any speed limit changes only been finalised and implemented following public feedback obtained during formal consultation processes.
The council reviews speed limits on district roads under a catchment-based approach as part of its responsibilities as the Road Controlling Authority. These reviews are undertaken in stages, with each road individually assessed to determine the safe and appropriate speed for its use and location.