Remains of a car crash on a notorious section of Te Mata Peak Rd, as seen this week. Photo / Jack Riddell
Remains of a car crash on a notorious section of Te Mata Peak Rd, as seen this week. Photo / Jack Riddell
Residents of Te Mata Peak Rd in Havelock North are concerned about the number of crashes outside their homes.
Locals suggest speed cameras, lower speed limits, and speed bumps to reduce accidents.
Hastings District Council is planning road surface improvements in 2025/26, pending funding approval.
A stretch of road going to one of Hawke’s Bay’s most popular scenic tourist attractions is in line for improvements after 13 crashes in just five years.
Residents of Te Mata Peak Rd in Havelock North say the crashes near the bottom of the road to Te Mata Peak are mostly caused by drivers speeding along the winding residential road.
Dave Robinson, who moved to the area near the road’s intersection with Simla Ave two years ago, estimates that in 2024 he saw three crashes on the route leading from Hereworth School to Te Mata Peak.
“I’m always walking my dog on a lead and you’ve just got to be careful you know, they drive really fast.
“Kids and pets [walk on the footpath] and it’s dangerous because [the footpath is] narrow.”
Robinson hasn’t seen or heard of anyone hit by a car along the stretch of road, but he has seen several signposts flattened and believes it’s only a matter of time before someone is hurt.
He suggested installing a speed camera and more speed radar signs that display people’s speed as they go past.
A crash along Te Mata Peak Rd from September, 2020. Photo / Warren Buckland
The most recent crash by Faatili’s house was in December when a hatchback came off the road coming down the peak.
Fortunately, no one was hurt in the crash, but Faatili believes a lower speed limit up the hill, combined with speed cameras, and speed bumps would result in lower crashes in the area.
Another resident of Te Mata Peak Rd, who asked only to be known as Piggy, said she feared a speeding car was going to crash onto her property while her children play outside.
“They are speeding, a lot, every hour of the day, every day,” she said.
Piggy said lower speed limits and speed bumps along the stretch of road would help protect residents, but she believes retaining walls are also needed to protect their homes.
“Someday a fence won’t hold a car and that crash rolls down on the property, into the houses.”
A car left Te Mata Peak Rd on June 29, 2020 but was fortunately caught by a tree. Photo / Warren Buckland
A Hastings District Council spokeswoman said the area of Te Mata Peak Rd between houses 33 and 74 was in line for improvement given its history of crashes.
NZTA’s Crash Analysis System (CAS) showed 13 crashes (12 non-injury, one injury) in that area over the past five years.
The spokeswoman said the council roading team intended to carry out road surface improvements in the 2025/26 financial year, subject to funding approval.
Although the system only showed one crash along Te Mata Peak Rd for 2024, the council was aware of a further crash attended by police on Te Mata Peak Rd in the holiday period.
There may also have been minor or non-injury crashes not reported to police that don’t appear in the statistics, the spokeswoman said.
She said the council also receives information from Te Mata Peak Rd residents about non-injury crashes in their area, which the council uses when considering road improvements.
Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and spent the last 15 years working in radio and media in Auckland, London, Berlin, and Napier. He reports on all stories relevant to residents of the region.
