Gisborne speed limit confusion to be clarified by Transport Minister

The 30km/h sign at the city centre end of Stout St is one of the many speed sign changes which are frustrating drivers. The other side of this sign says 40km/h.

The confusion around the many different speed limits in Gisborne may be clarified by the Minister of Transport by the end of this month.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi director of regional relationships (central North Island) Linda Stewart made that comment at Wednesday’s Regional Transport Committee meeting.

Committee chair Ani Pahuru-Huriwai said testing officers and driving instructors had expressed their concerns to her about the various speed limits and a lack of consistency.

The “mass changes” could result in people driving over the speed limit while trying to get their licence, she said.

It was even difficult for experienced drivers “to navigate the massive changes in speed limits around the town”.

Stewart said Transport Minister Simeon Brown would make a formal announcement on speed limit rules “hopefully by the end of this month”.

“We may well not have as many different speeds.”

Stewart said there was a proposal before the minister for a 110km/h speed limit on expressways in certain parts of the country where the roads were sufficiently safe.

There are proposals to reverse 30km/h limits on suburban streets and replace them with variable speed limits, and to have another more variable speed limit outside schools during drop-off times.

Other proposals include reversing lower speed limits on state highways and arterial and urban roads which have been in place since 2020.

“That would impact on the Tairāwhiti network.”

The minister’s decision, expected by the end of the month, would provide clarity and a timeline to introduce speed reversals, Stewart said.

In March 2024, the Minister of Transport confirmed a new Land Transport Rule for setting speed limits was to be released for public consultation to be signed off by the end of the year.

The new Government decided the deadline for having speed management plans in place by 2024 would be changed from mandatory to discretionary, and there was no longer a requirement for 40% of schools to have speed limits of 30 to 40km/h.

That school target has already been reached in Gisborne.