Hamilton’s growth may lead to lower speed limits on part of Te Rapa Rd

More than 2000 new homes are planned in a new neighbourhood named Te Awa Lakes. Photo / Hamilton City Council

By Libby Kirkby-McLeod of RNZ

Growth in Hamilton is leading the council to consider lowering the speed limit on part of a major city road.

Up to 2500 new homes are planned for the northern end of the city in a new neighbourhood called Te Awa Lakes.

Hamilton City Council has asked for feedback on lowering the 80km/h speed limit to 60km/h for a 460m section of Te Rapa Rd.

As part of the approved development, the Te Awa Lakes developer was required to install a signalised pedestrian crossing on Te Rapa Rd at their cost.

The council’s network & systems operations manager, Robyn Denton, said the road is an arterial route in a semi-rural area; but that is changing.

“People can already see a lot of earthworks in there, but they are going to see buildings and that sort of thing,” she said.

The new homes would increase the number of people walking, cycling and catching the bus in the area.

“The whole area will get busier,” Denton said.

The council is looking for community feedback on the lower speed limit.

It consulted recently on other speed limit changes, and Denton said Hamilton residents had shown they are thoughtful and engaged when it comes to considering the impacts.

“We found that people had thought about the issues and weren’t highly emotive about it but actually put some good, reasoned thought to us which was really useful for helping us and our elected members make decisions,” she said.

Denton said change was to be expected given that Hamilton was the country’s fastest-growing city.

“This is one of the many things that happen in a growth city … we’re trying to respond at an appropriate time to get the right sort of outcome for those people who are moving into that area,” she said.

Public feedback will be presented to the council’s Transport Subcommittee in late May and if supported by elected members the proposal would then require approval from the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

The public has until April 9, 2026, to have their say.

– RNZ