SH3 Hāwera north speed limit review

We’re proposing a 60 km/h speed limit on State Highway 3 (SH3) from north of Kerry Road to north of Fantham Street in Hāwera.  The speed limit on this section is currently a mix of 70km/h and 100km/h.

Speed review map

View larger map [PDF, 4.6 MB]

Have your say

Why we’re proposing a lower speed limit at this location

This proposed change reflects ongoing and future development along the corridor and aims to improve safety and accessibility.

Hāwera’s northern growth over the past 20 years has transformed the area from rural to increasingly urban fringe.

Planned industrial expansion, including the business park near Kerry and Fitzgerald Roads, will further increase activity on the road, making a lower speed limit more appropriate.

A key part of the South Taranaki District Council’s Corridor Strategy for SH3 (Normandy to Hāwera) is introducing a lower speed limit from just north of Kerry Road to just north of Fantham Street. This change will support planned intersection upgrades in the area, including new right-turn bays at Kerry Road and Fitzgerald Road.

This proposal aligns with the Government’s Road Safety Objectives which include taking a balanced and targeted approach to speed limits by considering safety, economic impacts – including travel times – and community views. 

New Zealand’s road safety objectives(external link)

About this section of highway

State Highway 3 (SH3) in North Hāwera is a key transport route connecting residential, industrial, and commercial areas. It serves a wide range of vehicles, including heavy trucks transporting agricultural and industrial goods, commuter cars, public transport, and service vehicles. The road supports freight movement, local travel, and access to facilities like the South Taranaki Business Park and Hāwera Racecourse.

Cost benefit information

As part of this speed review, we consider the implementation costs and overall safety and travel time impacts of the proposed speed limit changes in a cost benefit disclosure statement (CBDS).

If the speed limit is reduced to 60km/h it’s expected to reduce crashes which result in people being injured by 44 percent on the 100km/h section and 10 percent on the 70km/h section. It will add 8 seconds to journey times along the entire section for light and heavy vehicles. 

The expected cost to implement a new speed limit will be approximately $100,000. This includes associated traffic management, and planning, road signs and markings, installation costs, overheads, consultation and administration costs. 

View the full cost benefit disclosure statements – note there is a separate CBDS for each of the sections:

SH3 from north of Fitzgerald Road to Fantham Street (70km section) CBDS [PDF, 125 KB]

SH3 from North of Kerry Road to north of Fitzgerald Road (100km section) CBDS [PDF, 128 KB]

Next steps

Before recommending a new speed limit, we’ll consider all feedback alongside safety, technical and cost benefit information. We’ll then seek approval from the Director of Land Transport before any potential change to the speed limit is made.

Pending approval of a new speed limit from the Director of Land Transport, we’ll inform the community and stakeholders of the outcome and publish details, including a consultation summary, on our website before implementing any new speed limits.  

Get in touch

• Email us at CNIspeedmanagement.govt.nz
• Subscribe to receive updates on Taranaki speed management(external link)

For further information on speed reviews: https://nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/speed/state-highway-speed-management/(external link)

Your response and privacy

Information you have provided in this form may be made publicly available (with the exception of any personal information that could be used to identify an individual such as names, contact details and physical addresses) and will be used by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (we/us) to gain feedback, write our consultation report, and to meet the consultation requirements for the proposal to change the speed limit on SH3 from north of Kerry Road to north of Fantham Street, Hāwera as set out in the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024. 

Any personal information you provide might legally need to be disclosed to third parties if subject to a request under the Official Information Act 1982 (or as otherwise required by law). If your feedback is commercially sensitive or you do not want it disclosed, please let us know and include your reasons by emailing CNIspeedmanagement@nzta.govt.nz and this will be factored into any decision whether to release the information under the Official Information Act 1982. 

Under the Privacy Act 2020 you have the right to know what personal information we hold about you.  You can read more about how we handle your information on our website, or contact us at info@nzta.govt.nz

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