We’re proposing lower speed limits at selected South Island locations.
These changes include Intersection Speed Zones (ISZ) at high-risk rural intersections, as well as new permanent speed limits for project-related areas and a small number of community-requested locations.
Each proposal meets the criteria and funding requirements for formal speed reviews under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 (the Rule), which includes 6 weeks of public consultation. The final decision on speed limits will be legally enforceable once signs are installed and uncovered.
Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024
These proposals cover around 12 km of the more than 5,000 km that make up the South Island’s state highway network – roughly 0.22% of the network.
(Canterbury: 9.77 km, West Coast 1.79 km and Southland 0.36 km – 11.92 km total).
The changes are highly targeted and will have little effect on overall travel times, while improving safety where it matters most.
We’re consulting on 13 short sections of state highway where changes to speed limits are proposed.
In the table below, each section links to a map and a description, along with the estimated implementation cost and travel time impact shown in a Cost Benefit Disclosure Statement (CBDS).
Approx. location (by region) |
Road classification |
Approx length (km) |
Current speed limit (km/h) |
Proposed new speed limit (km/h) |
Canterbury |
||||
|
From the south end of Amberley to Grays Road |
Urban connector | 0.90 | 80 | 60 |
|
From south of Augustine Drive to north of Dunbars Road |
Urban connector | 0.87 | 60 | 50 |
|
From south of Brookside Road to south of Dunns Crossing Road |
Urban connector | 2.64 | 100 | 80 |
|
0.25km either side of the intersection with Telegraph Road |
Interregional connector | 0.50 | 100 | 60 (variable) |
|
0.20km either side of the intersection with Waimakariri Gorge Road |
Interregional connector | 0.40 | 100 | 60 (variable) |
|
From east of Curve Road to west of Queen Street |
Urban connector | 1.25 | 70 | 50 |
|
From east of Courtenay Road to west of Anson Street |
Peri-urban | 0.92 | 70 | 50 |
|
From north of Donald Street to south of Lachlan Street |
Urban connector | 0.47 | 70 | 50 |
|
From north of King Street to south of Hopkinson Road |
Urban connector | 1.78 | 80 | 60 |
West Coast |
||||
|
From south of Alma Road, over the Buller Bridge, to Westport township |
Peri-urban | 0.69 | 100 | 60 |
|
SH67, SH67A Westport intersection(external link) 0.30km stretch of SH67A, west of the intersection with SH67 |
Peri-urban | 0.30 | 100 | 60 |
|
From south of Ramsay Street to south of Anderson Street |
Peri-urban | 0.80 | 70 | 60 |
Southland |
||||
|
0.18km either side of the intersection with SH97 |
Interregional connector | 0.36 | 100 | 60 (variable) |
Have your say on these proposed speed limit changes. Your input will help shape final decisions under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024.
Fill out the survey below by 5pm on Friday 6 March 2026.
You are welcome to choose as many sections as you want to give feedback on.
After consultation, we’ll publish a summary report outlining what changes were made (or not) and why.
We’re proposing Intersection Speed Zones (ISZs) for some high-risk intersections in Canterbury and Southland.
ISZs are used to improve the safety at rural intersections along high-speed roads.
They detect when a vehicle is approaching the intersection to either turn into or out of the side road, activating the electronic variable speed limit sign to temporarily show a lower speed limit on the state highway, while avoiding unnecessary delays.
This makes it easier and safer for people to pull into or out of a side road across a high-speed rural road.
Watch this video to learn how ISZs work.
These proposals align with the government’s Road Safety Objectives which include taking a balanced and targeted approach to speed limits by considering safety, economic impacts – including travel times – and community views.
Road safety objectives(external link)
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Email us at SIspeedmanagement@nzta.govt.nz
The information you have provided in this form will be made publicly available (with the exception of any personal information that could be used to identify an individual such as names, contact details and physical address) and will be used by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (we/us) to gain feedback, write our consultation report, and to meet the consultation requirements for the proposed speed limit changes included in the Targeted Speed Limit Reviews – Canterbury, West Coast, Southland (January 2025 to March 2026 public consultation) as set out in the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024. Any personal information you provide might legally need to be disclosed to third parties if subject to a request under the Official Information Act 1982 (or as otherwise required by law). If your feedback is commercially sensitive or you do not want it disclosed, please let us know. Under the Privacy Act 2020 you have the right to know what personal information we hold about you.
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If you would like to request official information from us, please don’t include that in your submission. Instead, please direct it to the project team so we can respond to it in a timely manner. Email: SIspeedmanagement@nzta.govt.nz. Please don’t use this email address for consultation feedback – use the survey so your feedback goes to the right place.
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