- By Simeon Brown, Member of Parliament for Pakuranga
I recently announced as Transport Minister that by July 1, 2025, Labour’s blanket speed limit reduction on Pakuranga Road will be reversed so the previous speed limit of 60km/h can be reinstated for motorists.
East Auckland residents were rightfully frustrated when the speed limit on Pakuranga Road was first reduced back in early 2023, increasing travel times for local commuters.
Those who drive on Pakuranga Road every day knew Labour’s reduction would only increase congestion and make it harder to get around, without making the road much safer.
The coalition Government has released a new speed limit rule for consultation, which will require Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions introduced since January 1, 2020, on local streets, arterial roads, and state highways to be reversed by July 1 next year, including Pakuranga Road.
Our new rule will also ensure future speed limit changes will consider factors like economic impacts – including travel times – as well as the views of local road users and communities, alongside safety.
Importantly, it will require variable speed limits approaching schools during pick-up and drop-off times to keep our children safe as they attend school.
Local streets outside a school will have variable speed limits set at 30km/h during these peak times, while rural roads outside a school will have variable speed limits of 60km/h or less.
Our speed limit rule will also enable new and existing Roads of National Significance built to a high safety standard to be travelled on at 110km/h, and we are consulting on whether speed limits should be increased to 120km/h on Roads of National Significance that are designed to safely accommodate that speed.
Our Government remains committed to improving safety on our roads, and we will do so by targeting the highest contributors to fatal crashes, including alcohol and drugs, and by building and maintaining our road infrastructure to a safe and reliable standard.
This includes our record investment in preventing potholes across the country, with our Pothole Prevention Fund providing nearly $4 billion in funding over the next three years to strengthen our State Highways and local roads.
Our Government is committed to reversing Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions, and I wish we could reverse them immediately.
Undertaking public consultation has to happen, and we need to make sure that NZTA and councils have enough time to go around and change all of their signs. While this is frustrating, we are continuing to move at pace.
I encourage everyone to have their say on our draft speed limit rule to reverse blanket speed limit reductions across the country, including here in Pakuranga.
Ultimately, drivers know their local roads best and shouldn’t be forced to slow down where it’s safe to travel at higher speeds.
Feedback can be submitted on the Ministry of Transport’s website, www.transport.govt.nz.
