Thursday 24 July 2025
Whakatāne District Council has taken a significant step towards improving road safety across the district, following a recommendation from the Infrastructure and Planning Committee to adopt a series of targeted speed limit reductions on high-risk local roads.
At its meeting today (Thursday, 24 July), the Committee endorsed 18 of the 19 proposed speed limit changes across local roads. These decisions were informed by technical assessments, crash data, and feedback from a district-wide consultation. While public opinion was mixed, the Council has prioritised long-term road safety and community wellbeing.
Among the approved recommended changes to be taken to Council for final adoption:
- Withy Road will reduce from 100 to 70 km/h due to its winding, partially unsealed surface and limited visibility.
- Te Teko Road (urban section) will drop from 100 to 50 km/h to reflect nearby residential land use.
- Thornton Road (from SH30 to past Blueberry Curves), a high-risk corridor with a history of crashes, will reduce from 100 to 80 km/h.
- Ōhope Road (between Ōtarawairere and West End Roads) will move from a temporary 60 km/h limit to a permanent 60 km/hr, due to ongoing crash risks.
- Public consultation highlighted a range of views. Some submissions, such as those for Shaw Road Subdivision and Reid Road, received strong support, while others, such as West End Road and Galatea Road, were more contentious.
Manager Transportation, Ann-Elise Reynolds, said decisions around speed limits are based on a combination of technical data, community feedback, and the insights of elected members who represent local needs and priorities.
“While public feedback plays an important role in shaping decisions, we also rely on our elected members to speak on behalf of their communities, balancing local insight with broader safety, planning, and wellbeing considerations. In some cases, this has meant making decisions that don’t fully align with consultation feedback - but with public safety as the priority, these changes are about protecting lives and creating safer roads for everyone.”
“We know that even small reductions in speed can make a big difference in the outcome of a crash. These changes are about protecting lives, especially in areas where people walk, cycle, or live close to the road. It’s a practical, cost-effective way to make our roads safer for everyone.”
In the 2024/25 financial year, the Whakatāne District experienced a 44 percent increase in deaths and serious injuries on local roads. The estimated economic cost of these crashes was $41.5 million. National research shows that even modest speed reductions can significantly reduce both the likelihood and severity of crashes. A 2024 Waka Kotahi economic review found that speed reductions implemented between 2020 and 2023 prevented 27 fewer deaths and serious injuries per year, with benefits outweighing travel delays by a factor of two to ten.
Ms Reynolds, said the changes reflect a clear, evidence-based approach to road safety.
“We know that even small decreases in speed can make a big difference in crash outcomes. These changes are about savings lives, especially in places where people walk, cycle, or live close to the road. It’s a practical, cost-effective way to make our roads safer.”
The total cost of implementation is estimated at $165,000, and will be met from existing Council budgets. This includes $45,000 for electronic signage at high-risk intersections. The changes will be rolled out in phases from early 2026, subject to funding and resourcing.
Going forward, local speed limits will now be reviewed every three years, replacing the previous ad hoc approach. This will provide clearer timeframes for communities and enable timely responses to emerging safety issues or land use changes.
While the Council acknowledges that speed limit changes can be divisive, it believes the approved reductions are an important step toward enhancing safety and wellbeing across the district. The decision aligns with the Council’s Long Term Plan goal to reduce road harm and support safer communities.
The eighteen speed limit changes that were approved at today’s meeting and will be taken to the full Council meeting on 14 August for formal adoption. A full list of the roads consulted on, and the final outcomes for each road are listed in the table below.
Appendix
Consultation document
Please refer to the PDF in the link below for a full background to each of the roads up for consultation.
Final outcome of the IPC Meeting for each road:
1. Withy Road
Currently 100km/hr, proposed changing to 70km/hr
Approved for final adoption
2. Te Teko Road (Extending 50km/hr section to Okaahu Road)
Currently 100km/hr, proposed changing to 50km/hr
Approved for final adoption
3. Te Teko Road (Okaahu Road to Edgecumbe)
Currently 100km/hr, proposed changing to 80km/hr
Approved for final adoption
4. Thornton Road between the East Bank and West Bank intersections
Currently 100km/hr, proposed changing to 70km/hr
Approved for final adoption
5. Thornton Road (SH30 to Blueberry Corners)
Currently 100km/hr, proposed change to 80km/hr
Approved for final adoption
6. Wainui Road (Tauwhare Pā to Tio Ōhiwa Oyster Farm)
Currently a temporary 60km/hr, proposed changing to 60km/hr permanently
Approved for final adoption
7. Shaw Road subdivision (Kākāriki Drive, Shaw Road, Takahē Close, Kārearea Drive, Kōtare Drive and Korimako Place)
Currently 100km/hr, proposed changing to 50km/hr
Approved for final adoption
8. Thornton Beach Road (carpark and boat ramp)
Currently 50km/hr, proposed changing to 30km/hr
Approved for final adoption
9. West End Road
Currently 50km/hr, proposed changing to 30km/hr
Approved for final adoption
10. Galatea Road, Waiōhau
Currently 80km/hr, proposed changing to 60km/hr
Approved for final adoption
11. Pukehou Road, Waiōhau
Currently 100km/hr, proposed changing to 60km/hr
Approved for final adoption
12. Papanui Road, Waiōhau
Currently 100km/hr, proposed changing to 60km/hr
Approved for final adoption
13. Tawhia Road, Waiōhau
Currently 100km/hr, proposed changing to 60km/hr
Approved for final adoption
14. Galatea Road, Matahina Dam
Currently 100km/hr, proposed changing to 80km/hr
Approved for final adoption
15. Rototaha Road, Matahina Dam
Currently 100km/hr, proposed changing to 80km/hr
Approved for final adoption
16. Reid Road (Awahou Road to current speed limit threshold)
Currently 70km/hr, proposed changing to 100km/hr
Approved for final adoption
17. Airport, Tassel Drive
Currently 60km/hr, proposed changing to 30km/hr
Approved for final adoption
18. Valley Road
Currently 70km/hr, proposed changing to 50km/hr
Not approved. Will remain at 70km
19. Ōhope Road
Currently 80km/hr (with a temp 60km/hr), proposed changing to 60km/hr
Approved for final adoption
ENDS