SH10 Awanui to Kaingaroa

On average, one person is killed, and several people are seriously injured in crashes on our roads every day. The ripple effects of these hundreds of deaths and thousands of serious injuries are traumatic for whānau, friends, communities, workplaces - and our whole country.

We want to make your roads safer for everyone who uses them. On State Highway 10 between Awanui and Kaingaroa, the best thing we can do to prevent people from dying or being seriously injured is reduce speed limits, so they are safe and right for the road. Speed increases both the likelihood of crashes and the severity of crashes when they happen. A small reduction in speed can make a big difference, especially when cyclists or pedestrians are involved. Most crashes are caused by a number of factors, but even when speed is not the cause of a crash, it will most likely determine whether you survive a crash or walk away unharmed.

Making SH10 speeds safer

In October to December last year, we formally consulted on proposed new speed limits along State Highway 10 between Awanui and Kaingaroa asking for your feedback on our proposal. After considering all the feedback we received and making further investigations, we found that creating a permanent 60km/h speed limit along (nearly) 4kms of SH10 between Mahimaru marae and Kareponia marae will not provide the best safety outcomes for road users.

We have now refined our proposal to include variable speed limits past the marae, but before we make any decision on SH10 speed limits, we want to hear from you again. We are seeking your feedback through the formal consultation process required under the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits (2017).

While we receive and process your feedback on making SH10 safer, we will be installing billboards on the roadside to remind people to slow down and be safe this holiday season.

What we have heard from the community 

During formal consultation in 2019, submitters raised concerns about the potential for poor levels of compliance with a 60km/h speed limit. We also heard concerns from the local community that because of the lack of visible houses and driveways along the road between Mahimaru marae and Kareponia marae, drivers may be unaware they are passing through an area where there could be a high number of vehicle movements and pedestrians.   

Consultation summary [PDF, 915 KB]

2019 summary of submissions [PDF, 8.8 MB]

What we know about SH10 and its communities

There are a number of communities along SH10 between Awanui and Kaingaroa, including the settlement of Kareponia which lies between Church Rd and Kumi Rd and includes more than fifty households, a church and urupa (cemetery), a kohanga reo and two marae; Kareponia and Mahimaru.

We know that churches, kohanga reo and marae are focal points of Māori communities. They are used for kura (school), hui (meetings), whakanui (celebrations), tangihanga (funerals), and other important events. On these occasions, pedestrian and vehicle movements increase significantly for the duration of each event.

Road safety concerns also increase significantly during these events, particularly where a church, kohanga reo or marae is near a high-speed state highway environment, as is the case at Kareponia. These concerns include a significant increase in the number of vehicles entering and exiting the state highway and increased pedestrian activity (often involving vulnerable, elderly and young pedestrians).   

What we are proposing

We are committed to improving road safety for all. After discussions with Mahimaru marae and Kareponia marae we have created an alternative solution that proposes variable speed limit signs outside these marae to slow traffic when vehicles are entering or exiting the marae, or people are walking alongside the highway to the Komako urupā (cemetery). At all other times the speed limit past the marae would be 80km/h, a reduction from the current 100km/h limit.

Electronic variable speed limit (VSL) signs improve road safety for all road users by reducing speed limits for a short period of time only when required.

Vehicles slowing to enter or exit the marae will automatically activate the VSL signs through sensor-pads embedded in the highway and the marae driveways. Once activated the VSL will display a 60km/h speed limit, slowing traffic so vehicles can turn safely.

During tangihanga, when people are walking to and from the urupā, the VSL signs can be activated manually. This will slow passing vehicles to 30km/h, helping protect people walking alongside the highway from unsafe vehicle speeds.

As well as the VSL past the marae we are also proposing other speed limit changes between Awanui and Kaingaroa, as described in the following table:

 Project map

Download larger map [PDF, 114 KB]