Safer speed limits reset for five schools in Hokianga and Te Hiku
Reduced traffic speeds around five schools in North Hokianga, Ahipara, and Kaitāia will be incorporated into new speed limits currently being rolled-out. Most proposals recommend reducing speed limits near the schools to 30kph.
Reduced traffic speeds around five schools in North Hokianga, Ahipara, and Kaitāia will be incorporated into new speed limits currently being rolled-out across parts of the district.
The five schools are: Ahipara School; Broadwood Area School; Te Kura Taumata o Panguru; Pukepoto Primary School, including Te Rarawa Marae and Te Uri o Hina Marae; and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tūtūtarakihi School on Wireless Road.
Far North District Council and Northland Transportation Alliance (NTA) undertook a speed limit review of mostly rural roads around Kaitāia, Broadwood and Moerewa, as well as Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē Ninety Mile Beach, in consultation with the communities in late 2021. This is part of the government’s Road to Zero strategy, which has a target to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 40 per cent before 2030.
An updated Speed Limits Rule and national guidance released in 2022 has a greater focus on safer speed limits around schools. These latest changes ensure that the current roll-out of new speed limits in Hokianga and Te Hiku are consistent with the new standards.
Most of the proposals include a reduction of speed limits to 30kph, to provide a safer school environment for tamariki. Evidence shows that a 30kph speed limit can halve the risk of serious injury or fatality for tamariki if struck by a vehicle. The slower speeds will increase a motorist’s journey time by less than 30 seconds.
The council will be seeking feedback on the new proposals from those in the areas directly affected.
NTA Speed Limits Project Manager, Shawn Baker, said that after the review was completed, changes to the Speed Limits Rule meant that changes to speed limits outside some schools needed to be updated where speed limit review changes were yet to be implemented.
“Each proposal in North Hokianga, Ahipara and Kaitāia has been tailored to that particular school and its surrounding environment. Factors considered include the presence of sports fields, marae or communities wanting to be more pedestrian friendly.”
The deadline for feedback on the five proposals is before 4.30pm on Wednesday 9 August 2023.
For detailed information each proposal and a map of the affected area, please click on the area name in the overview provided below.
- Option 1 (favoured) is for a permanent 30kpm School Speed Limit from the new Po and including the first 80m of Foreshore Road and 130m of Takahe Road.
- Option 2 (not favoured) is for a variable 30kph speed limit that applies before and after school or at specific times, then 40kph at other times. This option is not favoured because it does not provide the wide range of pedestrian focussed activities in the town centre.
Broadwood Area School proposal
- Option 1 (favoured) is a permanent 30kph speed limit along Broadwood Road from the Broadwood Community Centre to approximately 130m past the school entrance. Saleyard Road will also be included as it includes the entrance to the sports field.
- Option 2 is for a variable 30kph speed limit but this is not favoured as it does not provide for after school activities and other events that centre around the school and sports fields.
Te Kura Taumata o Panguru proposal
- Option 1 (favoured) is for a permanent 30kph speed limit along West Coast Road from approximately 150m north of the one lane bridge to the intersection with Tautoro Road.
- Option 2 of a variable speed limit is not favoured because it does not provide for after school activities around the local shop and post office.
Pukepoto Primary School proposal including Te Rarawa and Te Uri o Hina Marae, Kaitāia
- A 30kph variable speed limit on part of the Kaitāia-Awaroa Road from Te Rarawa Marae to Pukepoto Primary School.
- It is proposed to operate the Variable Speed Limit in two sections with the speed in force 35 minutes before school starts and 20 minutes after school finishes. At other times the normal 60kph speed limit will apply to the road. Read details about the two sections in the link provided.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tūtūtarakihi School proposal on Wireless Road
- Option 1 is for a 30kph Variable School Speed Limit on part of Wireless Road from the intersection with State Highway 1 to 53 Wireless Road (approximately 500m). The variable speed limit would operate before and after school and would be 60kph at other times.
- Option 2 is for a permanent 30 kph speed limit but this is not favoured as there is no evidence that tamariki are accessing the road environment outside the times that the variable speed would apply.
For information on providing feedback please click the links above for a specific area to go to the flyer relating to that area.
The maps below are indicative only. Please click the links in the story for full information about each area, which includes a downloadable map.
Below - Ahipara School map of proposed speed limit changes.
Below - Broadwood Area School map of proposed speed limit changes.
Below - Te Kura Taumata o Panguru map of proposed speed limit changes.
Below - Pukepoto Primary School map of proposed speed limit changes.
Below - Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tūtūtarakihi School map of proposed speed limit changes on Wireless Road.
