On the road to new speed limits

New speed limits are being rolled out in 2024 on more than 300 roads in the Far North in a drive to improve safety.

At a council meeting held on 16 November, elected members approved the interim speed management plan for the Bay of Islands-Kerikeri area. It includes all council-administered roads east of State Highway 10, extending from State Highway 11 in the south to Whangaroa Harbour in the north.

The communities affected are Kerikeri, Waipapa, Ōpua, Paihia, Waitangi, Haruru Falls and Whangaroa.

The review of speed limits in the area follows a public consultation in 2022 that gathered 253 submissions, which were considered during a formal hearing in March this year.

Two-thirds of those submissions supported or partially supported the proposed new speed limits.

Far North District Council reviews speed limits on its roads under the Government’s Road to Zero Safety Strategy and this is undertaken in stages, area by area.

Over the past 10 years, there have been five fatal and 42 serious injury crashes in the Bay of Islands-Kerikeri area. National and international research has shown that for every 5km/h reduction in average speeds, there is a 28 per cent reduction in fatal crashes and a 26 per cent reduction in serious injury crashes.

New limits are as follows:

KERIKERI-WAIPAPA URBAN AREA

Going from 50km/h to 40km/h: Access Heights, Access Road, Amokura Drive, Amsharlo Drive, Ao Marama Place, Aranga Road, Augusta Place, Awhitu Road, Barrett Place, Baska Voda Drive, Blacks Road, Blue Marlin Drive, Blue Marlin Drive Extension, Blue Penguin Drive, Campbell Lane, Cannon Drive, Cannon Drive Extension, Charlotte Kemp Drive, Cobham Court, Cochrane Drive, Darwin Road, Edkins Road (Kerikeri), Fairway Drive from Augusta Place to Golf View Road, Fantail Rise, Fieldview, Fuller Terrace (Kerikeri), General Gates Avenue, Golf View Road, Greenway Drive, Hall Road, Harmony Lane, Hawkins Crescent, Heron Hill, Hone Heke Road from Cobham Drive to Baska Voda Dr, Hone Heke Road from 65 Hone Heke Road to Kerikeri Road, Jacaranda Place, James Kemp Place, Kapiro Road to 50m west of roundabout to roundabout, Karaka Drive, Kemp Road, Keridale Lane, Kerikeri Grove, Kerikeri Road from Heritage Bypass roundabout to end, Kilountain Place, King Street, Kingfisher Drive, Kotare Heights, Limelight Lane, Maraenui Drive, Marsden Place (Kerikeri), Martha Clarke Lane, Matau Place, Mawson Avenue, Mill Lane, Mission Road (Kerikeri), Norfolk Place, Oakridge Drive, Okura Drive, Pa Road, Paretu Drive, Pathways Drive, Peacock Garden Drive, Pickmere Lane, Rainbow Falls Road, Ranui Avenue, Rarere Terrace, Reinga Road, Riddell Road, Riverbank Drive (through road), Riverstone Lane, Sammaree Place, Selwyn Place (Kerikeri), Shepherd Road (Kerikeri), Silkwood Lane, Skudders Beach Road, Spoonbill Drive, St Andrews Place, Stella Drive (East), Stella Drive (west), Tareha Place, Tasman Place, The Lookout, The Ridge, Tōtara Place (Kerikeri), Tuatahi Place, Urutawa Drive, Waipapa Landing Place, Waipapa Road 50m before Landing Rd to roundabout, Waipapa Landing Road, Waitotara Drive, Wendywood Lane, Wentworth Terrace, Woodley Place.

Going from 50km/h to 30km/h: Clark Road (Kerikeri), Cobham Road from Hobson Avenue to Kerikeri Inlet Rd, Hone Heke Road from Baska Voda Dr to 65 Hone Heke Rd (school zone), Kendall Road, Lanark Road (school zone), Oripiro Road, Riverview Road, Tui Place (Kerikeri).

Going from 80km/h/100km/ to 60km/h: Kerikeri Inlet Road from 300m past Hoults Way to 50m north of One Lane Bridge (approx. 313 Kerikeri Inlet Road)

Going from 80km/h to 60km/30km/h (variable): Waipapa Road from 331 Waipapa Road to 372 Waipapa Road

Going from 80km/h to 60km/h: Waipapa Road from SH10 to 50m before Landing Road

Going from 80km/h to 50km/h: Kerikeri Road SH10 to 50m south of Butler Road,

Going from 50km/h/80km/ to 50km/h: Kerikeri Inlet Road from Cobham Road to 300m past Hoults Way

Going from 30km/h to 40km/h: Butler Road, Homestead Road Service Lane 1

Going from 100km/h to 30km/h: Blue Gum Lane (school zone)

KERIKERI-WAIPAPA PERI-URBAN AREA

Going from 100km/h to 40km/h: Ake Ake Road, Anchorage Heights, Bush Point Road (Doves Bay), Doves Bay Road, Edmonds Road, Kerikeri Inlet Road from Edmonds Road to end, Opito Bay Road from 407 Opito Bay Road to end, Pounamu Place, Quinces Landing, Rowsell Lane, Te Tii Road from Te Tii Rd Extension to end, Te Tii Road Extension, Tikorangi Road, Yacht Drive (Ōpito Bay)

Going from 100km/h to 60km/h: Conifer Lane, Davis Strongman Place, Doonside Road, Equestrian Drive, Furness Road, Hansen Road (Purerua), Keri Downs Road, Kotuku Road, Kurapari Road, McCaughan Road, McKenzie Road (Purerua), Oihi Road, Ōpito Road to 407 Ōpito Bay Road, Orangewood Road, Orchard Road (Kapiro), Purerua Road from 100m before Te Tii Road to end, Rangihoua Road, Rangitane Road from 40m before Opito Bay Road to Rangitane Loop Rd, Redcliffs Road from Rangitane Rd to end, River Drive Road, Somerville Road, Stanners Road from end of seal to end, Te Kowhai Point Road, Te Tii Road from Purerua Rd to Te Tii Rd Extension, Wairangi Road, Wharau Road unsealed section, Wharengaere Road.

Going from 100km/h to 80km/h: Kerikeri Inlet Road from 50m north of One Lane Bridge (approx. 313 Kerikeri Inlet Road, to Edmonds Road, Purerua Road from Kapiro Road to 110m before Te Tii Road, Rangitane Rd from Redcliffs Rd to 40m before Opito Road, Stanners Road from SH10 to end of seal, Tanikaha Lane, Wharau Road from Quines Landing to end of seal.

Going from 100km/h to 30km/h: Hewitt Road (50m leading to a carpark and conservation estate.

Going from 100km/h to 70km/h: Kapiro Road from SH10 to 50m west of roundabout.

Going from 100km/h to 60km/h/30km/h (variable): Purerua Road variable school zone, 200m past Te Tii Rd intersection, Te Tii Road Variable School Zone from Purerua Rd for 50m.

Going from 50km/h to 40km/h: Rangitane Loop Road.

ŌPUA

Going from 50km/h to 30km/h: Austin Street, Baffin Street, Beechey Street, Creswell Street, De Haven Street, English Bay Road, Franklin Street (school zone), Kane Street (east), Kane Street (west), Kellet Street, Kennedy Street, Lyon Street, Osbourne Road, Penney Street (Ōpua).

PAIHIA

Going from 50km/h to 40km/h: Bayview Road (Paihia), Bedggood Close, Davis Cresent (Paihia), Kings Road, Kowhai Crescent (Paihia), Macmurray Road, Mako Lane (Paihia), Moana Avenue, School Road (Paihia) from Joyces Road to end, Tahuna Road (Paihia), Tau Henare Drive, Te Karuwha Parade from SH11 to bridge, Te Kemara Avenue, Tohitapu Road, Hihitahi Rise, Puketiro Place, Taumata Close, Te Haumi Drive, Tui Grove (Paihia).

Going from 50km/h to 30km/h: Binnie Street, Coutts Avenue, Greys Lane, Joyces Road, School Road (Paihia) from Marsden Road to Joyces Road, Seaview Heights Road, Selwyn Road (Paihia), Sullivans Road, Veronica Street, Williams Street.

Going from 50km/h to 20km/h: Selwyn Road Service Lane.

HARURU

Going from 50km/h to 40km/h: Halyard Loop, Haruru Falls Road from Puketona Rd (SH11) to north side of bridge, Hawke Drive, Kaipatiki Rise, Mooring Close, Nautical Drive, Orchard Road (Haruru Falls), Riverglen Drive, Skippers Close (Watea), Spinnaker Point, Spinnaker Point/The Anchorage Rab, Te Kahu Street, The Anchorage, The Anchorage East, Waterview Place, Wharf Road (Haruru Falls), Wilson Road, Yorke Road, Yorke Road (East).

WHANGAROA

Going from 50km/h to 30km/h: Kent Street (Whangaroa), Mckenzie Road (Whangaroa), Old Church Rd Service Lane, Old Church Road (Whangaroa), Old Hospital Road, Ruato Road, Whangaroa Road from RP5311 (50m west of Kent St) to end.

Going from 100km/h to 30km/h: Lewer Street.

Going from 100km/h to 50km/h: Whangaroa Road from approx 50m west of Wainui Road intersection) to 50m west of Kent St).

RURAL CONNECTING ROADS (SOUTH)

Going from 50km/h to 40km/h: Arabella Road, Broadview Road, Point Veronica Drive, Point Veronica Drive Extension, Rosella Road, Ward Drive, Ward Drive (East).

Going from 100km/h to 60km/h: Cottle Hill Drive, Haruru Falls Road from north side of bridge to end, Hautapu Road, Hupara Road from 100m prior to Ngahuhu Road to End, Hupara Road (East), Jameson Esplanade, Mcdonalds Road (Oromāhoe), Mcintyres Road, Ngahuhu Road, Oromāhoe Road, Pinehill Road, Retreat Road, Rigden Road, Smeath Road (Hupara), Tui Glen Road, Waimangaro Road, Wakelin Road, Whangae Road.

Going from 100km/h to 40km/h: Bayly Road

Going from 100km/h to 80km/h: Hupara Road from SH 1 to 100m prior to Ngahuhu Road

Going from 50km/h to 30km/h: Beaufort Road

Going from 50km/h to 20km/h: Bledisloe Road

Going from 100km/h to 30km/h: Bristow Road

RURAL CONNECTING ROADS (NORTH)

Going from 100km/h to 60km/h: Atwell Road, Cavalli View Road, Hauriri Road, Hikurua Road, Huia Road, Leacock Road, Mahinepua Road, Martin Road (Kāeo), Matauri Link Road, Mcgee Road, Ohakiri Way, Otaha Road, Takou Bay Road Otaha Rd to end, Taraire Road, Tauranga Bay Road from Wainui Rd to Tauranga Bay Beach Rd, Te Ra Road, Tepene Tablelands Road, Thompsons Access, Waikoura Road, Wainui Road from Matauri Bay Rd to Tauranga Bay Rd.

Going from 100km/h to 40km/h: Matangirau School Road, Matauri Beach Road, Matauri Beach Road (Matauri X), Ota Point Road from 100m before 103 Ota Point Rd to end, Porters Access Road, Porters Access Road Extension, Tauranga Bay Road from Tauranga Bay Beach Rd to end, Tauranga Bay Beach Road from Tauranga Bay Rd to 20m before campground, Te Tapui Road.

Going from 100km/h to 80km/h: Matauri Bay Road, Ota Point Road from Wainui Rd to 100m before 103 Ota Point Rd, Takou Bay Road from SH10 to Otaha Rd, Wainui Road from Tauranga Bay Rd to Whangaroa, Whangaroa Road from SH10 to Wainui Rd.

Going from 100km/h to 30km/h: Tauranga Bay Beach Road from 20m before campground to end.

Going from 100km/h to 60km/h/30km/h (variable): Wainui Road (Whakarara Rd - Variable School Zone) from 350m from Matauri Bay Rd for 620m, Wainui Valley Road, Waitapu Creek Road.

Going from 50km/h to 30km/h: Wainui Road from 50kmh boundary SE of One Lane Bridge at Te Ngaere Bay to current 50kmh/100kmh boundary.