Council to address concerns over Te Hāpua speed limit signs

Far North District Council is working with Te Hāpua community members to resolve concerns about new variable speed limit signs installed outside the local school.

The signs display reduced speed limits at school pick-up and drop-off times to provide increased safety for students and drivers and were installed under the 2024 Setting of Speed Limits Rule. This requires all schools to have variable speed limits in place by 1 July 2026. Te Hāpua School was included in a Far North District Council consultation earlier in 2026 regarding the setting of variable speed limits, including the times the speed limit would be in effect. Outside of the area controlled by variable speed limits, the speed is unchanged and is signposted at 100km/h.

The location of the signs is determined by a national rule specifying how far they must be placed from a school entrance. However, signs can be shifted outside of those distances with NZTA approval.

Following installation of the variable speed limit signs, several community members have complained about the speed limits, as well as the location of the signs outside of a marae.

In response, council staff have been in contact with a community member who lodged a request for service with the council about the signs and will arrange a meeting to discuss alternative sign locations. The council will also discuss options with the community about replacing the 100km/h speed signs with open road signs.