Gisborne speed limits rise as Government increases highway speeds

This stretch of State Highway 35 at Okitu, Moana Rd, will see the speed limit increased from the current 60km/h up to 70km/h through changes the Government has made around the country. Photo / Murray Robertson

State Highway 35 between Gisborne city and Makorori Hill will be affected by the Government’s recently announced increases in speed limits on major roads around the country.

The move announced on Wednesday will mean increased speed limits on 38 sections of key routes around New Zealand.

In the href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/gisborne-district/" target="_blank">Gisborne District, the changes apply to speed increases of 60km/h to 80km/h and 60km/h to 70km/h, from about 60m east of Wheatstone Rd to about 20m northwest of Coldstream Rd on SH35, when heading into Gisborne from Wainui.

Also on SH35 at Okitu, the current 60km/h zone goes back up to 70km/h from southwest of Wairere Rd to north of Sirrah St.

“Where Labour was about slowing New Zealand down, the coalition Government is all about making it easier for people and freight to get from A to B as quickly and efficiently as possible, which will help drive economic growth and improved productivity,” Transport Minister Chris Bishop earlier said.

Bishop said the 38 roads where the speed limits would increase were chosen because they were easy, long, straight stretches of state highways.

The speed limits on the sections of roads will be reversed to their previous limits by July 1.

Bishop has also released a further list of 49 sections of state highway for further public consultation “so local communities can have their say on keeping their current lower speed limit or returning to the previous higher speed”.

The Gisborne District features once in this list, with a suggestion for a section of SH35 Makorori to Pouawa, from about 390m north of Sirrah St to 400m south of Pouawa Bridge to be increased from 80km/h to 100km/h.

Public consultation on this list began Thursday and will run for six weeks.

“In terms of local road changes, councils have until 1 May 2025 to advise NZTA [NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi] of the specified roads subject to reversal under the new Rule,” Bishop said.