(Article updated 31/01 11:56 - added comments from Hon Louise Upston below)
The New Zealand Transport Agency is required to review the limits under new government rules, which mandate reversing speed reductions on interregional connectors unless public consultation shows support for keeping them lower.
Labour's Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere has criticised the approach, arguing it prioritises politics over safety. "This is clearly the government's intention to deliver on a campaign promise for political purpose and political reasons rather than actually thinking about the safety of families," Utikere told Lake FM.
However, perspectives vary. "It's interesting how different communities seem to have different perspectives," Lake FM's Jesse noted during the interview. "We've heard from people particularly affected by the Taupō-Napier State Highway 5 and there seems to be stronger support there just to bring those limits up."
The consultation covers 17.86 kilometres of the 24-kilometre route, where speed limits were reduced in 2020 from 100km/h to 80km/h and 60km/h in some sections. Not all sections are included in the review - the stretches through Waitahanui and Waitetoko / Tauranga Taupō Bay will retain their current speeds as they're not classified as interregional connectors.
Utikere expressed particular concern about proposals to increase speeds in some 60km/h zones directly to 100km/h. "Even that 60km zone that's currently in place, the government are not thinking about changing that through to 80," he said, questioning the time savings involved. "What we're starting to see is when we actually dive down into the time sort of savings, many of them are 15 seconds, 20 seconds, you know, less than a minute."
NZTA data shows one fatal crash and seven serious injury crashes occurred in the decade before the 2020 speed reductions. However, the agency notes that crash data since the changes cannot be directly compared as the new limits haven't been in place long enough for robust analysis.
The route presents various challenges for drivers, including tight corners, steep drop-offs, and limited passing opportunities. Large trees, roadside drains, and a particularly winding section adjacent to Lake Taupō north of Motutere add to the demanding driving conditions.
Previous consultation in 2019 revealed strong community support for lower speeds, particularly through lakeside settlements where pedestrians, cyclists, tourists, and heavy vehicles share the road. The mix of road users becomes especially concerning during peak summer months when the popular holiday destination sees significant increases in traffic.
The highway serves as a crucial freight route between the upper and lower North Island, with any crashes causing extensive delays and long detours when road closures occur.
Utikere has raised concerns about the consultation process itself, suggesting it might become "a pure numbers game" rather than meaningful community engagement. "I would be surprised if NZTA are actually planning to go into local communities to meet face to face, to listen to those who live along these stretches of roads to get a bit of an understanding about what the community sentiment is," he said.
NZTA's consultation will determine whether the current reduced speeds remain in place or revert to previous limits. The agency encourages all road users and local residents to provide feedback during the consultation period.
Lake FM requested an interview with MP for Taupō Louise Upston for this story. Unfortunately she was unable to schedule a phone interview with us but has provided the following comments:
"We are delivering what we promised at the election—reversing Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions so that Kiwis aren’t slowed down unnecessarily.
Economic growth relies on delivering people and freight around New Zealand more efficiently. Speed limit changes are being made to support that goal.
During the 2019 consultation process, and once the 2020 speed limits were introduced, I was contacted by far more people concerned about arbitrary speed reductions than those who were delighted with them.
This is an opportunity for NZTA Waka Kotahi to review speed limits in consultation with the community.
Residents who supported lower speed limits in 2019 will have an opportunity to submit their views again. There will also be people who didn’t support lower speed limits in 2019 and have been frustrated. It is a balancing act.
We must consider the safety of road users and pedestrians alongside efficiency. NZTA has a responsibility to keep people safe and safety will always be a priority when making decisions about speed limits on our roads."
