STDC Speed Management Plan

The STDC Speed Management Plan helps ensure speed limits across the district are safe and appropriate for the roads people use every day.

The plan takes a risk-based, evidence-led approach to improving road safety, recognising that speed is a major factor in crash severity. It focuses on areas experiencing urban growth, roads near marae, and rural roads around schools and balances safety outcomes with practicality and cost.

The Plan, which was approved by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) in early September 2026, introduces a range of speed limit changes across the district, particularly in developing urban areas such as Glover Road, Goodson Road, Fitzgerald Road, Turuturu Road and the Longview subdivision, where lower permanent speed limits are intended to reflect increasing residential development, pedestrian activity, and changing road environments. It also introduces or updates variable speed limits around numerous marae and schools to meet national requirements and improve safety for vulnerable road users.

Urban growth and developing residential areas

Hāwera North-West Growth Area

• Glover Road (Rata Street to Goodson Road): 70/100 km/h → 50 km/h
• Glover Road (Goodson Road to Ketemarae Road): 100 km/h → 70 km/h
• Goodson Road: 100 km/h → 50 km/h
• Larlin Drive: 70 km/h → 50 km/h
• Larlin Heights: 70 km/h → 50 km/h

These changes are linked to residential development, additional roads being connected to the network, and increasing pedestrian and vehicle activity.

Hāwera East Growth Area

• Fitzgerald Road: 100 km/h → 50 km/h
• Houston Road: 100 km/h → 50 km/h
• Kerry Road: 100 km/h → 50 km/h

Longview / Turuturu Area

• Turuturu Road (west of the railway line to north of Turuturu Mokai): 70/80 km/h → 50 km/h
• Haowhenua Place: 70 km/h → 50 km/h
• Arthur Street: 70 km/h → 50 km/h
• Longview Drive: 70 km/h → 50 km/h
• Matariki Street: 70 km/h → 50 km/h

Marae locations

The plan introduces or updates variable speed limits outside numerous marae across the district. In most rural locations the current 100 km/h speed limit remains outside operating times, but variable limits of 60 km/h and 30 km/h will apply when active. Locations include:

• Meremere / Pukomoko Pā (Ohangai Road)
• Ngātiki Marae (Ararata Road)
• Pariroa Marae (Pariroa Road)
• Taiporohenui Marae (Ohangai Road, Matangarara Road, Tiwhaiti Road)
• Wharepuni Marae (Fraser Road)
• Aotearoa Marae (Hastings Road and Inuawai Road)
• Kanihi-Māwhitiwhiti Pā (Hastings Road and Omahuru Road)
• Taikatu Pā (Taikatu Road)
• Te Aroha o Tītokowaru (Inaha Road)
• Te Rangatapu Marae, Ōhāwe (Ōhāwe Terrace and Karora Street)
• Waiōkura Marae (Winks Road)

These changes are intended to improve safety around marae, kōhanga reo and associated community activities.

School-related changes

The plan introduces several changes around rural schools, largely driven by the requirements of the 2024 Speed Limits Rule. In a number of cases, existing 30 km/h variable school speed limits are being removed or shortened, and speeds are being returned to the national default outside revised school zones. Schools specifically referenced include:

• Auroa School
• Matapu School
• Rawhitiroa School
• Te Kura o Ngāruahinerangi

In some locations the 30 km/h variable speed zone is shortened and accompanied by a permanent 60 km/h buffer zone, with updated variable speed operating times.

You can read the full Speed Management Plan here.