Speed humps proposed for Ōkaihau township

The death of a 19-year-old who was struck on Settlers Way in January has reignited the Okaihau community’s push for urgent traffic-calming measures.

A plan to install two pedestrian crossings in Ōkaihau has been revised after community feedback, with four rubberised speed humps now on the table to tackle ongoing concerns about speeding through town.

The proposal will need to be submitted to the Far North District Council’s transport committee in time for its August meeting.

Earlier this year, the Ōkaihau Community Association lodged a formal petition with the Kaikohe Hokianga Community Board seeking immediate action on Settlers Way, which connects to State Highway 1 and serves the Ōkaihau commercial centre.

The death of 19-year-old cyclist Matthew Howard, who was struck on Settlers Way in January, reignited the Ōkaihau community’s push for urgent traffic-calming measures.

Following the petition, the transport committee (Te Koukou) approved two crossings for Ōkaihau – one permanent one at the college crossing (to be a raised pedestrian crossing) and another rubberised one.

But after a recent community meeting on the matter, council and civil engineering staff have reconsidered the speed-hump situation. They have taken on board the community feeling presented at the meeting, that speed reduction is the priority focus and raised pedestrian crossings are a bonus rather than a requirement.

On that basis, they are now considering four rubberised speed humps in the town, along the length of Settlers Way.

One would be above the tunnel, coming off SH1, one would be somewhere towards the end of the town section of Settlers Way (past the schools), and two more would be spaced in between at appropriate positions.

“We met with council and engineering staff after school to see how kids were actually moving, getting out of school, getting on buses. If we raised the crossing, it would have made the bus turnaround at the college even more difficult,” said the association’s chairman, Robert Newport.

Instead, he said, the group suggested placing speed humps on the town’s western entry and exit points, with a third potentially near the school zone to reinforce the existing slow-down signage.

“We were pushing for concrete ones at first, but they’re more expensive. At this point, we just want something in place that works and doesn’t need more budget approval.”

The crossing at the college would now be unchanged.

The association hopes to send a proposal on the changes before the next transport committee meeting next month.