Return to 100km/h for Gisborne highway one year on: No safety issues, but caution remains

The 80km/h speed limit on SH35 between Makorori and Pouawa was reverted back to 100km/h in June last year. Photo / Ben Cowper

No increase in safety issues has been observed on a section of State Highway 35 nearly a year on from a speed limit increase.

Residents remain cautious, however, and drivers are encouraged to remain mindful of their speed.

The SH35 stretch between Makorori and Pouawa, north of Gisborne, increased from 80km/h to 100km/h last June.

Critics of the proposal included the Gisborne Cycling Club, Gisborne Boardriders Club and some residents, who highlighted potential safety risks with activities in the area.

Critics also pointed to existing signage along the road, warning it was a “High Crash Area”.

Public support for retaining the speed limit did not meet the required level to prevent the increase.

Colin Alder, councillor and chair of Gisborne District Council’s local transport committee, said that driving to the conditions remained important, regardless of the change.

“There’s more to driving than just speed limits”.

Alder had not seen notable safety concerns since the change.

He suggested signage to remind drivers to be alert around beach hotspots. Alder noticed that surfing groups have been adding their own signage during surf events.

“You’ll get the occasional day where there’s lots of people at the beach, and those days are where you need to be more alert as a driver and slow down.”

A resident, who asked not to be named, told the Gisborne Herald that the speed increase has been a “non-issue” and that it was hard to say whether there had been a notable difference in safety.

They said the “predominant feeling” among their community was that the increase to a 100km/h speed limit contradicted the messaging of signage along the road telling drivers to “slow down” because of the crash risk.

Some still chose to drive at 80km/h.

Linda Stewart, NZ Transport Agency’s director of regional relationships, said NZTA acknowledged there were “a range of views on speed from road users and communities”.

“The Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 specifically required NZTA to measure levels of public support through consultation, in order to demonstrate ‘public acceptance’.”

Stewart said that public support for keeping the speed limit to 80km/h did not reach the required level of support.

“We made this change as required by the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024, which legalises the Government’s expectation that speed limits on New Zealand’s roads will be managed in a way that supports economic growth, boosts productivity, and enables people to get to where they are going quickly and safely.”

NZTA confirmed there were “no plans” at this stage for further speed increases on SH35.