Third review of Far North district road speeds begins

Far North residents are being asked to provide feedback on the district’s third review of road speed limits – this time for district roads in the Bay of Islands-Kerikeri area east of State Highway 10.

The council is asking for public feedback on proposed speed limit changes for 301 district roads stretching from Whangaroa Harbour in the north and Kawakawa to the south. The review will include district roads in Kerikeri, Ōpua, Paihia, Waitangi and Haruru. The six-week consultation opens today (28 October) and will close on 5 December.

The latest proposals follow a 2019 review of speed limits on roads between Kāeo and Ōhaeawai, and a 2021 review of district roads at Kaitāia, Broadwood, and Moerewa. These areas have been prioritised for review because records show they have a high crash risk or are high growth areas, such as Kerikeri. Roads outside of these priority areas will be included in a Northland-wide speed limit review due to commence in 2024.

The reviews are part of a region-wide assessment of district road speeds with both Whangarei District Council and Kaipara District Council running similar consultations. The review process supports the Government’s Road to Zero national strategy to reduce deaths and serious injuries on New Zealand roads by 40 per cent by 2030. The state highway network is being reviewed separately by Waka Kotahi.

Go to the council’s consultations webpage to find a full list of roads currently under review, the full proposal, as well as maps of the review areas. You can make a submission on the proposals via the webpage, or you can pick up the full proposal from council service centres in Paihia, Kerikeri or Kāeo.

Three public drop-in sessions will be held to discuss the Bay of Islands-Kerikeri speed limit review. These will be held at:

• Kerikeri on Monday 7 November 5pm - 7pm at Cornerstone (corner of Kerikeri Road and Heritage Bypass)
• Paihia on Thursday 17 November 4pm - 6pm at Paihia Memorial Hall
• Whangaroa on Wednesday 23 November 4pm - 6pm at Whangaroa Village Hall.

Council and Northland Transportation Alliance staff will be on hand during the sessions to answer questions on the proposed speed limit changes and to assist with submissions. Key organisations, such as schools, marae and business groups, are also being contacted directly to ensure they have an opportunity to provide feedback.