Under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 (the rule), NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is changing the speed limit on a short section of State Highway 1 (SH1) at Motutere.
After receiving considerable community feedback including through a formal consultation process, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) will make changes to the speed limit on 850m of SH1 in Motutere.
The support for the safer speeds came from many different avenues, and in particular, local residents.
90% of the 751 submitters saw positive benefits of changing the speed from 100km/h to 60km/h.
Many said that a lower speed limit would be safer for pedestrians and cyclists using the road, with a lot of people crossing SH1 which is between Motutere Holiday Park and Lake Taupō.
|
Location |
Length (km) |
Existing speed limit (km/h) |
New speed limit (km/h) |
|
SH1 Motutere from approx. 425m on each side of the entrance to the Motutere Holiday Park |
0.85 |
100 |
60 |
More information on permanent speed limits can be found on this page and the consultation report:
A new approach to setting speed limits on New Zealand roads came into force on 30 October 2024. The Rule sets out how speed limits on New Zealand roads will be managed in a way that supports economic growth, boosts productivity, and enables people to get to where they are going efficiently and safely.
Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024
The rule supports a targeted approach to speed management by focusing speed reviews on areas of high safety concern, supporting NZ Police to meet speed-related enforcement targets and using variable speed limits outside schools.
As part of the new Rule, NZTA was required to reverse speed limits on some state highways by 1 July 2025. This included a 4.31km stretch of SH1 between Halletts Bay and Motutere/Te Pōporo Bulli Point, where the speed limit was raised from 60km/h to 100km/h on 22 May 2025.
Since the speed limit was reinstated to 100km/h in May 2025, NZTA received considerable feedback from the local community, iwi, council representatives, as well as the freight industry. People felt very strongly that a speed limit of 100km/h is inappropriate in the Motutere Holiday Park area and that a return to 60km/h is needed for safety reasons.
As well as community feedback, other reasons for the proposed change in speed limit at Motutere include:
The Motutere Holiday Park straddles SH1. The Holiday Park has users setting up on both sides of the road, with the main area being on the opposite side of the road to the lake, meaning many people cross SH1 on foot to access the lake.
There are many vehicles stopping and turning along with pedestrian movements in the area.
The Motutere boat ramp is also a well-used stopping point and provides access to Lake Taupō.
The area experiences considerable year-round traffic.
We proposed lowering the speed limit to 60km/h on the 0.85km section of SH1 in the Motutere Holiday Park area. We suggested this could be from about 700m northbound of Waitapu Road to 150m southbound of Waitapu Road (ie 450m either side of the Motutere Holiday Park main entrance).
|
Location |
Road classification |
Approx length (km) |
Existing speed limit (km/h) |
Proposed speed limit (km/h) |
|
SH1 Motutere from approx. 700m northbound of Waitapu Road to approx.150m southbound of Waitapu Road. |
Stopping place |
0.85km |
100km/h |
60km/h |
NZTA considered the economic impacts alongside the views of road users gathered during consultation and technical safety assessments to determine if we set the lower speed limit.
The Cost Benefit Disclosure Statement outlining safety, travel time, and cost impacts is summarised below and is also available in full:
SH1 Motutere Stopping Place CBDS [PDF, 117 KB]
|
Proposed change in speed limit (km/h) |
Approximate Length (km) |
All vehicles (light and heavy) time increase per journey |
Predicted total crash reduction |
Cost to lower speed limit |
|
SH1 Motutere |
0.85 |
19 seconds |
44% |
$25,000 |
*Where possible, existing signage will be utilised/reused which will reduce costs. If this isn’t possible and new signage will be required along with the associated traffic management, these are the expected costs. These may include such things as planning, road signs and markings, installation costs including traffic management, and consultation and administration costs.
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.
Road safety objectives | Ministry of Transport(external link)
Subscribe to updates to keep informed(external link)
Email us at waikato.speed.reviews@nzta.govt.nz
