Main types of signs

Most of the signs you'll see on our roads are international symbolic signs. This means they use the same shapes and symbols as traffic signs all over the world.

Symbolic signs are used because they're quick and easy to read and understand.

The signs are generally made of reflective material, making them easier to read at night.

The 3 types of signs

The signs on our roads can be divided into 3 types:

compulsory signs
warning signs
information signs.

You must be able to recognise and understand each type of sign.

Some examples of these signs are shown below.

Note: the examples are only a small sample of the symbolic signs used on our roads. This is to familiarise you with the 3 main types of sign rather than show you all the signs you'll see when riding.

Compulsory signs

Compulsory signs tell you what you must or must not do.

They're usually red or blue.

A blue circle with white border and white curved arrow pointing right.

Turn right

A blue circle with a white border and a white arrow pointing straight up.

Keep going straight ahead

A blue circle with white border and white arrow angled down and left.

Keep left

A white circle with a red border and black text reading 50.

You must not go faster than 50km/h

A red circle. In the centre is a white rectangle with red text reading no entry.

You must not drive into this road

A white circle with red border and a red line crossing diagonally through the centre. In the background is a black curved arrow point left.

You must not turn left

A white circle with red border and a red line crossing diagonally through the centre. In the background is a black curved arrow point down.

You must not make a U-turn

A red octagon with white border and white text reading stop.

You must stop and then give way

A white upside down triangle with red border and red text reading give way.

You must slow down and give way (or stop, if necessary)

A red circle with white text that reads school patrol stop.

School patrol – you must stop

Some compulsory signs have red borders.

A white rectangle with red border and black text reading keep left unless passing.

You must keep left unless passing

A white square with red border. It has a black bus with black text underneath reading lane.

Bus lane that can also be used by cycles, motorcycles, mopeds

A white square with a red border. It shows a black bus with black text underneath that reads only.

Bus lane that can only be used by buses

A white square with red border. The top black text reads transit lane. The centre left shows a red circle with white text that reads T3. The centre right shows a black car with 3 people. The bottom black text shows time and days.

Transit lane - can only be used by passenger service vehicles, cycles, motorcycles, mopeds and vehicles carrying at least the number of people shown on the sign. T2 means 2 or more people, T3 means 3 or more.

Important

Road authorities, such as local councils, may have special rules for road users in specific areas. These restrictions should be shown by signs or markings.

Warning signs

Warning signs alert you to a hazard on the road ahead. They warn you to be careful for your own safety, the safety of other road users or the safety of road workers carrying out maintenance.

There are 2 types of warning signs:

Those that warn you of a permanent hazard.
Those that warn you of a temporary hazard.

Both types of sign are usually diamond-shaped.

Permanent warning signs

These signs are yellow and black.

Yellow diamond shaped sign with six short vertical black lines and one long vertical black line in the centre.

Pedestrian crossing

A yellow diamond with a black border and two children holding hands and walking

Look out for children

A yellow diamond with a black border and black car with skid trails

Slippery surface

A yellow diamond with a black border and black parallel lines in centre. One line moves closer to the other

Road narrows

A yellow diamond with a black border and black arrows pointing up and down and the number 3.82 metres in the centre.

Clearance height advance warning

Temporary warning signs

These warning signs are orange and black.

Orange diamond with a black border and black image of a man with a shovel

Roadworks

White square with one corner orange, an arrow on the left goes straight and turns in to the right and an arrow on the right goes straight up.

Left lane closed

Orange diamond with black border and images of 2 cars one car throwing up stones and the other with a broken windscreen.

Gravel surface

Orange diamond with black border and an image of person holding up a sign and waving

Stop on request

Orange diamond with black border and a black cliff face with falling rocks.

Slips

Orange diamond with black border and an exclamation mark in the centre.

Note: this sign will always be displayed with another sign explaining the hazard, such as Flooding

A orange rectangle with black border with black text reading checkpoint.

A orange rectangle with black border and black text reading police operation.

Bilingual traffic signs

You may also see some signs in both te reo Māori and English.

A rectangular yellow sign with a black border and text reading kura school.

Kura school sign

Information signs

These signs give you useful information, for example, the distance to the next town. They're all rectangular, but come in a range of different colours and sizes.