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Hairini Slip Lane

Hairini slip lane trial reopening

Tauranga City Council has approved a three-month trial reopening of the Hairini Street slip lane onto Turret Road.

Community feedback

We’re keen to hear feedback on how the trial is going. If you would like to get in touch, please phone 07 577 7000 or email transportcomms@tauranga.govt.nz.

The trial reopening is to allow Hairini residents and their visitors to use this lane to improve access to routes out of the community.

The slip lane will reopen from 20 October 2025 to 20 January 2026, except during the morning peak hours of 6.30am to 9.30am, Monday to Friday when it will remain buses only for safety reasons. 

The reopening applies only to the slip lane. The section of bus lane after the merge, (refer to image), will remain a bus lane at all times. 

Any vehicles which continue in the bus lane past the designated merge point, at any time, risk a $150 fine.  A $150 fine may also be issued if the slip lane is used between 6.30am-9.30am, Monday to Friday.

The merge will be marked with both signs and green paint on the road. 

Remember to ‘merge like a zip’ – match your speed with the other traffic, indicate as you look for a gap, then merge safely.

Hairini slip lane trial flyer (940kb pdf)

Why is the slip lane reopening?

The decision follows requests from local Hapū Ngāi Te Ahi and others in the Hairini community to ease the current restrictions and restore local access.

In May-June 2025 we surveyed more than 300 local homes and businesses in Hairini to determine the level of support for current restrictions, level of support for a proposed trial reopening of the slip lane, and what times people would like the slip lane to be open. 

Seventy-three (80%) of the 92 people who responded either supported or strongly supported a three-month trial reopening of the slip lane. Many people who were visited at their homes by Council staff also verbally supported the trial.

Engagement summary (148kb pdf)

At a meeting of the City Delivery Committee on 22 July 2025 a decision was made to go ahead with a three-month trial reopening of the slip lane.

Safety measures

The trial reopening of the slip lane must not compromise safety or cause excessive ‘rat running’ through Hairini Street which would see an unacceptable increase in traffic in the residential area.

Although a decision was made not to install traffic calming measures (such as speed humps, chicanes, and road narrowing) initially, safety remains the top priority. 

We will be actively monitoring changes in vehicle volumes and speeds as well as changes in driver behaviour from day one of the trial. If there are any causes for concern, approval from Council to install traffic calming measures will be sought.

With more vehicles expected on the road during the trial we’re asking all drivers to take extra care – slow down, stay alert and watch for children walking, biking and scootering. 

Let’s work together to keep Hairini Street safe for everyone. 

Next steps

A report will be presented to Council after the trial to help determine whether the slip lane should remain open permanently, including feedback from the community.

FAQs

The slip lane was closed to general traffic for public safety and efficiency reasons following the completion of the Maungatapu underpass and since July 2018 has been open to buses only.

The slip lane closure also provided an opportunity to improve bus travel times in the area. There are 41 public bus trips per day into the city (on a 20-minute frequency) as well as about 10 school bus trips in the morning peak. The trial reopening will assess impacts on these bus trips and the current bus stop location.

Resident only access options and the associated costs are currently being looked at and the findings will be presented to Council after the trial is completed.

Funding for further design work on the Fifteenth Avenue to Welcome Bay project has been approved and will get underway from October 2025. If further funding is secured and the project goes ahead, construction works, and changes to the roading layout may impact on whether the slip lane can be reopened permanently.

Learn more about the Fifteenth Avenue to Welcome Bay project.

Opening the slip lane during the morning peak of 6.30am to 9.30am is not an option due to safety and efficiency concerns.

Between 6.30am and 9.30am, Monday to Friday the slip lane will remain an enforced bus lane, and a $150 fine may be issued for any infringements.

By maintaining bus-only access during the morning peak any impacts of the trial are expected to be minimal, however this will be assessed as part of the trial.

Key information

Project type
Transport and movement

Status
Planning

Neighbourhood
Welcome Bay/Tauriko/Te Papa

Key dates

  • Hairini slip lane closed to general traffic

    July 2018
  • Tangata Whenua/ Tauranga City Council Committee endorses a trial reopening of the slip lane

    April 2024
  • Engagement with Hairini community on a trial reopening

    May 2025
  • City Future Committee approves a three-month trial reopening

    July 2025
  • Trial reopening of Hairini slip lane

    20 October 2025 – 20 January 2026
  • Report back to City Future Committee on results of trial and next steps

    Early 2026

Who's listening

Transport team
Tauranga City Council

transportcomms@tauranga.govt.nz
07 577 7000

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