Speed LimitsPae tere

The setting of speed limits is controlled by legislation in the form of the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limit 2024, which sets our procedures for road controlling authorities to set enforceable speed limits on roads within their jurisdictions. The objective of the speed limits legislation is to balance the interests of mobility and safety by ensuring speed limits are safe, appropriate and credible for the level of roadside development and category of road for which they are set, and maintain consistency with other roads in the network having similar characteristics.

Speed limits are only set after following a prescribed procedure to establish the correct speed limit for a specific road; consultation with the people and organisations affected by the speed limit; notifying the Director of Transport and the Commissioner of Police; making a bylaw in this regard; and erecting the necessary speed limit signs.

Frequent changes in speed limits along a route are avoided and changes should only take place at or close to a point of significant change in the roadside development or road environment, such as a change in road geometry, a bridge or other feature that affects speed, e.g. a roundabout.

Reviewing speed limits

A speed limit must be reviewed when there is a significant change in the nature, scale or intensity of land use adjacent to a road or in the road itself, its use or environment, and also when the Director of Transport requests a review.

A speed limit may also be reviewed if Council decides to do so or when it receives a written request to that effect from a person, organisation or road user group affected by that speed limit.

Calculating speed limits

Calculating a speed limit involves a comprehensive procedure and includes considering many factors to determine a realistic speed limit, including: 

• Roadside development (number of houses, shops, schools, etc.)
• The function of a road (arterial, collector or local)
• Character of the surrounding land (rural, fringe of city, fully developed)
• Carriageway characteristics (median divided, number of lanes, street lighting, etc.)
• Existing speed limit
• Vehicle, cycle and pedestrian activity
• Crash data

Urban and Rural Roads

Urban speed limits are applied in areas where land use includes residential, commercial, industrial, educational and recreational activities and the general speed limit set at 50 km/h.

Rural speed limits are set in areas mainly outside of towns and cities, and land use includes agriculture, market gardening, forestry, reserves and small settlements. The general speed limit on rural roads is 100 km/h.

Speed limits of 60 km/hr or 80 km/hr are primarily intended as limits for arterial routes, but a 50 km/hr, 70 km/hr or even 100 km/h speed limit may also be appropriate on arterial roads in some circumstances. Geometric features and the general appearance of a road and surrounding development should be consistent along the entire length of the arterial route speed limit.

Permanent/Temporary Speed Limits

Other types of speed limits include permanent speed limits for roads in designated locations, and temporary speed limits.

Permanent speed limits for roads in designated areas might apply at any of the following locations:

• Car park
• Camping ground
• Botanical garden
• Airport
• Wharf
• Beach
• Cemetery

Temporary speed limits are set when there is a danger to the public or a person working on or near a road, or when it is necessary for the safety of a special event. Temporary speed limits are set by installing signs in accordance with a traffic management plan approved in writing by the road controlling authority.

State Highways

State highways are not controlled by Council as they fall within the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Transport Authority.