Speed limit review 2022

This consultation has now closed. Oral submissions were held on 21 March 2023.

We are required to review all speed limits in the district under the government’s Road to Zero National Road Safety Strategy. To do this, we are undertaking a road catchment-based rolling review of speed limits. Our initial focus is on high-benefit roads where better speed management will reduce serious injury and fatal crashes and areas that have high growth.

This time round we are reviewing the Bay of Islands-Kerikeri area east of State Highway 10. This encompasses Kerikeri, Ōpua, Paihia, Waitangi, Haruru, and Whangaroa. This review does not include Russell which will be included in the next catchment.

Why are we doing this?

We need to ensure we all get to our destination safely. Better speed management is one way of making our roads safer. Other ways of improving safety include better engineering, safer cars and improving driver education. Government and council are working on these other options as well, but they take time (and are costly), and we need to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on our roads now.

Speed is a factor in 30% of all fatal and serious injury crashes in Far North. Speed limits on many of our roads were set when limits were restricted to 50 km/h in urban areas, 100 km/h in most other places and 70 km/h on a few semi-urban roads. As a result, our speed limits do not always match the road environment. In some cases, we have 100 km/h speed limits on narrow, unsealed roads with one-lane bridges and poor visibility on corners. Our district has also grown, and traffic volumes have changed.

The Bay of Islands and Kerikeri area is growing rapidly with new subdivisions, commercial areas and schools. Our speed limits need to keep pace with this change to ensure road user safety. Slower speed limits in our urban areas make those areas better places to live in.

How can I have a say?

Your views on the proposed new speed limits are important to us, but we need your feedback by 4:30pm, Monday 5 December 2022.

Share your feedback on the proposed new speed limits 

We will be hosting drop-in sessions for those who want to discuss the proposed changes, share their feedback, and learn more in person.

If the online survey doesn't work for you, you can also:

• Email your submission to submissions@fndc.govt.nz
• Drop-off a written submission at any council service centre or library
• Post your submission to: Far North District Council, Private Bag 752, Kaikohe 0440
• Share your feedback orally, just let us know by email to submissions@fndc.govt.nz