Lower vehicle speed limits outside Hastings schools are being rolled out from this week to align with the Government’s new Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024.
Hastings District Council is leading the country in implementing the new variable speeds around schools over the next three months – a year ahead of the Government’s national deadline.
Mayor, Sandra Hazlehurst said the early adoption reflected Council’s strong commitment to improving safety outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and the wider community.
“We’re taking a proactive step to protect our children and show leadership in road safety,” said Mayor Hazlehurst.
“By rolling out variable speed limits ahead of schedule, we’re ensuring safer journeys to and from school for everyone.”
Over the next three months, all schools across Hastings will move to variable speed limits, operating during defined school travel periods during school terms. These periods typically cover 45 minutes before and after school, but up to an hour in areas where multiple schools are located nearby.
Bridge Pa, Maraekākaho, Puketapu, Te Pōhue, and Waimārama schools are the first to have the new variable speed limits in place from today (14 July). The goal is to have the school speed limits operating at all Hastings schools by mid-September.
The changes apply to both urban and rural schools and adhere to national rules that define school zone extents and classification criteria.
Key features include:
- Electronic variable speed signs for schools on major roads (urban and rural connectors);
- Static variable speed signs for schools on lower-volume neighbourhood roads;
- School zone speed limits extending 150 metres either side of the school gate for schools where the normal speed limit is 50km/h or lower, or extending 300 metres either side of the school gate for schools where the normal speed limit is 60km/h or greater.
Unlike the previous permanent speed zones, the new approach uses variable signs that are only active during designated school travel periods, improving clarity and consistency for drivers.
In February, Council formally adopted the changes under the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2022, replacing the previous Speed Limits Bylaw.
All electronic signs have been purchased, with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi [NZTA] support. Additional funding has been sought from NZTA to assist with installation of static variable signs, with all costs itemised in Council’s Long-Term Plan (LTP) budgets.
The initiative complements other road safety efforts across the district, including the Heretaunga Arakura programme, which delivered traffic calming infrastructure and encouraged more students to walk and cycle safely to school.
For more details, including a full list of affected schools and maps of new school zones, visit: www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/school-speed-limits-plan.
