Whakatāne District Council is continuing the rollout of variable speed limits near schools across the district. This aligns with the Government’s Setting of Speed Limits Rule, with signage to be in place by 1 July, 2026.
The programme builds on work completed last year, with variable speed limits introduced outside Waimana School and Te Mahoe School in July 2025 to help protect tamariki during busy school pick-up and drop-off times.
The variable speed limits reduce vehicle speeds during school travel periods, before and after school during school terms, and return to the normal speed limit outside these times. This approach gives drivers clearer signals about when lower speeds apply, while improving safety around schools when children are most active.
Ann-Elise Reynolds, Manager Transportation at Whakatāne District Council, said the wider rollout reflects the Council’s ongoing focus on safer roads around schools.
“Lower speeds around schools make a real difference to safety,” Ann‑Elise Reynolds said.
“By slowing traffic during the times children are arriving at or leaving kura, we’re creating a calmer, safer environment for tamariki, whānau, and everyone using the road.”
Following the successful introduction of variable speed limits at Waimana School and Te Mahoe School last year, remaining schools across the Whakatāne District will see similar changes rolled out in May and June.
The changes apply to both urban and rural schools and follow national rules that define school zone extents, signage requirements, and operating times. Depending on the location and road type, school zones will use either electronic or static variable speed signs.
The variable speed limits are aimed at creating safer, more predictable journeys around schools during the busiest times of the day, supporting the wellbeing of tamariki, whānau, and all road users.
Variable speed limits coming into place on local roads in Whakatāne District in May and June 2026:
School Zone | Previous speed limit (km/h) | New variable speed limit (km/h) | Variable speed during the following times |
| Allandale School | 50 | 50/30 | 8:20-9am 2:40-3:20pm |
| James Street School | 50 | 50/30 | 8:20-9am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Whakatāne Intermediate | 50 | 50/30 | 8:20-9am 2:40-3:20pm |
| St Josephs School (Whakatāne) | 50 | 50/30 | 8:20-9am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Whakatāne High School | 50 | 50/30 | 8:20-9am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Whakatāne Seventh Day Adventist School | 50 | 50/30 | 8:20-9am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Trident High School | 50 | 50/30 | 8:20-9am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Ōhope Beach School | 50 | 50/30 | 7:50-8:30am 2:20-3pm |
| Apanui Primary School | 50 | 50/30 | 8:20-9am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Edgecumbe Primary | 50 | 50/30 | 8:10-8:50am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Edgecumbe College | 50 | 50/30 | 8:10-8:50am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Murupara Area School | 50 | 50/30 | 8-8:40am 2:50-3:30pm |
| Otakiri School | 30 | 60/30 | 8:10-8:50am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Tawera Bilingual School | 30 | 80/30 | 8-8:40am 2:20-3pm |
| Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Huiarau | 100 | 50/30 | 8-8:40am 2:20-3pm |
| Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Orini ki Ngāti Awa | 50 | 50/30 | 7:30-8:10am 3:20-4pm |
| Te Kura Kaupapa Motuhake o Tāwhiuau (Murupara) | 50 | 50/30 | 8:10-8:50am 2:50-3:30pm |
| Te Kura Mana Māori o Matahi | 30 | 100/60 | 8:20-9am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Te Kura Māori-a-Rohe o Waiohau | 30 | 80/30 | 8-8:40am 2:30-3.10pm |
| Te Kura o Te Teko | 50 | 50/30 | 8:20-9am 2:30-3:10pm |
| Te Kura o Te Pāroa | 30 | 80/30 | 8:20-9am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Te Wharekura o Rūātoki | 30 | 70/30 | 7:50-8:30am 2:40-3:20pm |
| Saint Joseph’s School (Matatā) | 50 | 50/30 | 8:15-8:50am 2:40-3:15pm |
| Matatā School | 50 | 50/30 | 8:15-8:50am 2:40-3:15pm |
*Waimana and Te Mahoe schools were completed in 2025. As always, motorists are required to follow the speed limits of any signage in place at the time.
