11 Mar 2025: speed limit changes and reversals
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Speed limit changes and proposed reversals
Enquiry
To RLC organisation
I'm writing an update on speed limit reversals and had a couple questions for the council, please.
Will or has the council submitted on the reversal proposals and what is its position? May I please have a copy of its submission if it has?
Noting NZTA said post 2021 consultation: Rotorua Lakes Council, locals, community groups, businesses and a range of road user industry groups were concerned about unsafe speed limits in locations on SH5 and SH30 and they’d like to see more consistent speeds, with some lowered.
It also notes concerns relating to waipa state mill rd and the concerns of the community there. Did the council have a view on lowering the speed limit at this point of SH and what was it? Has this changed and how so?
I've read this article here relating to a group calling for an injunction against the reversals [the group is called Movement] and a judicial review, which says:
In a minute issued by the High Court last month, Justice Dale La Hood said the country's Road Controlling Authorities (including district and city councils) had until 20 March to file an application to join or intervene in the proceedings...
A Tasman District Council spokesperson said it had seen the letter, sent to all Road Controlling Authorities asking if they wanted to join or intervene in the proceedings, but it did not yet have an established position on the matter.
Has the council received such a letter, has it responded and with what? What is its position and will it get involved, and to what degree/how so?
Grounds for its JR included: Mistake of fact (Para 55-57). The Minister relied on incorrect information that “fatalities on local roads with speed limits up to 50km/h have remained relatively unchanged since these reduced speed limits were introduced from 2020.”
How many local roads in Rotorua roads were changed from 2020 and what impact has this had on fatalities on them?
Any relevant comment of information from the council?
To Mayor Tapsell
I have the below comment for mayoral response from concerned Rotorua resident and former council candidate Ryan Gray who created a petition to keep the speed limit at 80kph at the intersection of Waipa State Mill Road and State Highway 5. (Obviously not all for response, most for context)
It was signed more than 540 times.
He said the number of people signing reflected people's desire for safety in that area, despite how "in general people seem to like to drive fast".
No-one self-identified as a bad driver, he said. "People make mistakes."
Gray calculated an increased limit would shave 12 seconds from a journey. He did not view this as worth the safety risk, especially without any road design changes or improvements.
“I am calling on Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell, and Rotorua MP Todd McClay to speak up for their communities and tell NZTA to keep Waipa at 80km/h."
He said the signatures came from a wide range of people, the majority local.
Some were worried for young drivers that frequented the forest to mountain bike, while others for the logging truck drivers turning right across both lanes of traffic from SH30 to then almost immediately turn left into Waipa.
"This intersection is used by thousands of people every day from all walks of life. People who work at Waipa have told me of countless near and real crashes they have witnessed and many fear for young drivers and tourists who, tired from big adventures in the forest, who could soon be having to cross three lanes of traffic travelling at 100km/h to drive back into the city."
Gray believed it would only get busier when the new business park was completed.
“Some of the proposed speed increases are fine, but this one simply is not, and the community is speaking up loud and clear."
As well as response to the above can I please ask what the mayor's stance is, if she has submitted, and what she views is the general public's view on speed limit reversals in general and at waipa.
Response
From RLC organisation
From Group Manager Infrastructure and Assets Stavros Michael:
Re submission: RLC did not make a submission but outside of this process we continue to advocate for improvements on our district roading network and will continue to work with NZTA with the aim of supporting a safe and efficient network that also supports development and economic growth.
Any matters of concern to Council will be discussed directly with NZTA through our relationship protocols.
Re SH5/Waipa area: RLC’s view that safety and accessibility improvements on this stretch of state highway, where we now have commercial development underway, is a priority has not changed and we continue to advocate for improvements.
A recommended package of infrastructure and speed management interventions for this area was supported by all parties including NZTA and included roundabouts at the key intersections on this section of SH5 and speed limit adjustments.
Re letter asking if want to join or intervene in the injunction proceedings: I have not seen such a letter.
Re local roads in Rotorua changed from 2020: See report from June 2021 Council meeting approving speed limit changes that were recommended by the then Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee which outlines the 56 speed limit changes made at that time on local and reserve access roads and approved by the then Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee - Speed limit changes approved by Council - Rotorua Lakes Council
There is a link to the report that went to SP&F which lists all the recommended changes and includes reasons for the changes/factors taken into consideration. Note that in quite a number of cases the speed limit was lowered due to the phasing out nationally of 70kph.
Consultation was held on all proposed changes with feedback considered in what was recommended.
Re impact on fatalities: Since those changes there has been one fatality on a section of local road where the speed limit was reduced, on Pukehangi Road near Sunset Road in 2022. There were none recorded on sections where the limits were changed in 2021 prior to that.
Additional comment: Regardless of what speed limits are set, road users must always drive according to the conditions and at all times remain mindful of their own and other people’s safety.
From Mayor Tapsell
“For the past few months, I’ve been strongly requesting funding from NZTA for safety and accessibility improvements in this area alongside our Rotorua Business Chamber and RotoruaNZ. Together we have all written to NZTA and Government Ministers raising our concerns about a lack of NZTA funding for Rotorua, especially for state highway improvements.
“It’s very disappointing that for the next three years NZTA hasn’t allocated or prioritised funding for important road network upgrades, or any safety improvements in our district. There has been a significant amount of work completed in preparation for our state highway upgrades, and this began in 2016 almost ten years ago. This is why we’re now urging NZTA to deliver on these much-needed improvements for the Waipa State Mill Road / State Highway 5 area.
“As this road and area is the responsibility of NZTA we rely on funding and support from them to make this happen. I assure the community we will keep pushing for the right decision to be made for safety purposes and also to support our aspirations to grow jobs with the development underway in Peka, a new industrial park.”
