Variable speed zones outside schools
New 30km/h variable speed limits are now in place at the following schools:
- Aquinas College
- Arataki School
- Bethlehem College
- Bethlehem School
- Gate Pā School
- Greenpark School
- Maungatapu School
- Merivale School
- Mount Maunganui College
- Mount Maunganui Intermediate
- Mount Maunganui Primary School
- Omanu School
- Ōtūmoetai Primary School
- Pāpāmoa College
- Pillans Point School
- Selwyn Ridge School
- St Mary’s Catholic School (Tauranga)
- St Thomas More Catholic School
- Suzanne Aubert Catholic School
- Tahatai Coast School
- Tauranga Adventist School
- Tauranga Boys' College
- Tauranga Girls' College
- Tauranga Intermediate School
- Tauranga Primary School
- Tauranga Waldorf School
- Tauriko School
- Te Akau ki Pāpāmoa Primary School
- Te Kura o Matapihi
- Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School
- Te Wharekura o Mauao
- Welcome Bay School
The following schools will change over to the new 30km/h variable speed limits over the coming weeks:
- Bellevue School (Tauranga)
- Golden Sands School
- Greerton Village School
- Matua School
- Ōtūmoetai College
- Ōtūmoetai Intermediate
- Pāpāmoa Primary School
- Taumata School
- Tauranga Special School
- Te Kura o Manunui (previously Brookfield Primary)
- Te Whakatipuranga (Ōtūmoetai TPU)
* ACG will have a variable speed limit of 60km/h
Speed limit change maps (15.6mb pdf)
City centre speed limit change
Council approved a recommendation in June 2024 that the city centre area currently covered by a 30km/h temporary speed limit (between McLean Street and Second Avenue) be included as a permanent 30km/h (this will not include Cameron Road).
Urban fringe
Council approved a recommendation that the proposed changes to speed limits on Domain Road, Tara Road, Te Puke Highway, and Parton Road be deferred until future development changes the current road environment.
The following changes were also approved:
- relocating the urban/rural boundary on Welcome Bay Road, reducing a 210-metre section of Welcome Bay Road from 80km/h to 50km/h. This section of road is near Tauranga Wardorf School.
- consultation with residents and businesses on Truman Lane regarding the implementation of a permanent 50 km/h speed limit between Mangatawa Link Road and SH29. A temporary 50km/h limit has been in effect for several years to reduce risks associated with the high volume of traffic bypassing the Baylink overpass project.
Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024
The Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024, which came into effect on 30 October 2024, requires us to prepare a Cost Benefit Disclosure Statement for each road being considered for a permanent speed limit reduction. This does not apply for variable school speed zones.
Community engagement – April-May 2024
We acknowledge the time and effort our communities and key stakeholders have taken to provide feedback on safer speeds in our city. This feedback was valuable in developing the recommendations for consideration by Council.
In total, 1038 people completed the online survey, we received 23 emails to our project inbox, 60 people attended our community drop-in sessions and there were more than 350 comments on our social media posts.
Read more in our Engagement Summary Report. (2.9mb pdf)
Why do we want to make these changes?
As Tauranga has grown, some higher speed limits are no longer appropriate with the higher density of housing, vehicle volumes, and the mix of cyclists and pedestrians using the streets. Reducing the speed limits on these key roads and around school environments during drop-off and pick-up times will make it safer for the community to move around.
As well as reducing the number of serious injuries and deaths on our road network, lowering speed limits provides access to a range of transport options that make it easy and safe to get around the city and create a healthier environment with lower carbon emissions and improved air quality.
In June 2024, Tauranga City Council adopted a Speed Management Plan following community engagement. In December 2024, Council approved amendments to the plan, including the implementation of 30 km/h variable speed limits outside schools, which are required nationally by July 2026.
The Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 has removed mandatory requirements for local Road Controlling Authorities (RCA), such as Tauranga City Council, to implement speed management plans. We no longer have a single mandated plan however we do have a targeted approach to managing speeds, focusing on roads with the highest safety risks and ensuring limits match the surrounding environment.