Speed limit review - Waikato | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Waikato new speed limits consultation

Community feedback overview – December 2025 update

After receiving considerable community feedback including through a 6 week formal consultation process, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has made several changes to the speed limits on short sections of SH25 in Coromandel Peninsula and SH2 at Karangahake and in Waihī.

Total submissions

A total of 982 submissions were received on the 4 speed limit reviews we undertook on SH25 in the Coromandel Peninsula region.
SH2 Karangahake received 271 submissions.
SH2 Waihī received 217 submissions.

Key findings

In Kūaotunu, 71% and 69% felt there were positive benefits in lowering 2 sections of SH25 from 70km/h to 50km/h.
In Wharekaho, 63% were positive about speed limits going from 70km/h to 50km/h in their area.
58% saw the benefits of changing the speed limit to 50km/h between Thames and Tararu.
Karangahake: 41% saw benefits, 57% had concerns, believing it would cause more delays. Many also commented that a lower speed limit would help people navigate the tricky nature of the road.
SH2 Waihī: half had concerns but many stated the lower speed limit would make the busy Dean Crescent intersection safer, noting the high number of heavy vehicles and cars towing trailers using that intersection.

Implementation

New speed limits will be introduced in the days leading up to Christmas.
Speed limit changes have been certified by the Director of Land Transport.
Enforcement of the new speed limits will become legal once the new signage is in place.
Public consultation ran for 6 weeks, from August to October 2025, involving partners, stakeholders, and the community.

New speed limits

Location	Approx Length (km)	Existing speed limit (km/h)	New speed limit (km/h)
SH25 Kūaotunu (western approach) from about 200m south of Hilldale Crescent, past the boat ramp to just before Kawhero Drive.	1.2	70	50
SH25 Kūaotunu (eastern approach) from 150m past Blackjack Road to 115m past Cemetery Road.	1	70	50
SH25 Wharekaho (southern approach) from near Leah Road, Wharekaho to near Harbour Lights Terrace.	1	80	50
SH25 Thames to Tararu from north of Burke Street, Thames to north of Ash Street, Tararu. Will join existing lengths of 50km/h that run through Tararu and Thames urban areas.	1.8	70	50
SH1 Motutere from approx. 425m on each side of the entrance to the Motutere Holiday Park.	0.85	100	60
SH2 Karangahake towards Waikino (from near Albert Street, near Karangahake, to west of Waitawheta Road)	2.8	80	60
SH2 Waihī from near the SH2/Martin Road/Baber Street intersection to near Orchard Road.	0.95	70	60
SH2 Waihī from near Orchard Road to near Dean Crescent.	0.84	100	60

Consultation summary report

More information on permanent speed limits can be found on this page and the consultation report:

SH25 Coromandel Speed Review consultation summary report – October 2025 [PDF, 751 KB]

SH2 Karangahake and Waihī speed review consultation summary report – October 2025 [PDF, 597 KB]

Other reviews (still under decision)

The other speed limit reviews consulted on at the same time are still going through the decision process and should be available soon. This includes:

an intersection speed zone on SH21 near Hamilton Airport
2 variable speed limits outside Raungaiti and Ūkaipō marae (SH27 and SH29).

August to October 2025 consultation

Between August and October 2025, we asked for your feedback on proposed new speed limits at several state highway locations, including:

Coromandel Peninsula (SH25).
Waihī and Karangahake (SH2).
Variable speed limits outside two marae on SH27 and SH29.
An Intersection Speed Zone (ISZ) near Hamilton Airport (SH21 / Raynes Road) in the Waikato region.

These proposals were part of a wider initiative to set lower speed limits requested by the community.

Background

Under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 (the Rule), NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is proposing to change the speed limits on some sections of state highways. We are conducting speed management reviews that will take into consideration safety, technical, cost benefit and other data, alongside community feedback, including through a formal public consultation, to determine if we change the speed limit.

Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024

Changing speed limits is a legal process. The Rule allows NZTA to set speed limits for roads under its control where there is alignment with the intent and requirements of the Rule and there is strong community support and funding is available.

Feedback from community

NZTA received strong feedback from various communities that these sections of state highway would benefit from operating at a lower speed limit.

Variable Speed Limits (VSL) use electronic signs that show the legal lower speed limit to help manage traffic and improve safety—such as during busy times at marae.
Intersection Speed Zones (ISZ) slow traffic to 60km/h when vehicles approach an intersection. Approaching traffic is detected and the electronic signage shows the temporarily lowered legal speed limit for the highway, which changes from 100km/h to 60km/h.

The state highways speed limits included in this review were:

Location	Road classification	Approx length (km)	Existing speed limit (km/h)	Proposed speed limit (km/h)
SH2 Karangahake towards Waikino, from about 1km east of Albert Street to about 1.7km past School Road towards Waikino.	Mountainous or hill corridor	2.8	80	60
SH2 Waihī (Parry Palm Avenue), from near the intersection of SH2/Martin Road/Baber Street to near Orchard Road.	Urban connector	0.95	70	60
SH2 Waihī (Parry Palm Avenue), from near Orchard Road to near Dean Crescent.	Urban connector	0.84	100	60
SH25 Kūaotunu (western approach) from about 200m south of Hilldale Crescent, past the boat ramp to just before Kawhero Drive.	Urban connector	1.2	70	50
SH25 Kūaotunu (eastern approach) from about 150m past Blackjack Road to 120m past Cemetery Road.	Urban connector (peri urban)	1.1	70	50
SH25 Wharekaho (southern approach) from near Leah Road, Wharekaho to near Harbour Lights Terrace.	Urban connector	1.0	80	50
SH25 Thames to Tararu from north of Burke Street, Thames to north of Ash Street, Tararu.	Urban connector	1.8	70	50
VSL outside Marae on SH29
SH27 Raungaiti Marae, includes side roads Kutia Road and Gillet Road. The marae has an existing right turn bay.	Rural connector	0.4	100	100 / 60 VSL
SH29 Ūkaipō Marae	Interregional connector	0.3	100	100 / 60 VSL
ISZ near Hamilton Airport
SH21 (Airport Road)/ Raynes Road Intersection speed zone (ISZ)	Rural connector	0.5	100	100/60 ISZ

Consultation closed on Friday 3 October 2025.

We’re now continuing to review and analyse the remaining parts of this review, and will be in touch in the coming months with an update.

Road safety objectives

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)

State highway speed management

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Get in touch

Email us at waikato.speed.reviews@nzta.govt.nz

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Speed limit review - Waikato