To help keep young New Zealanders safe, variable speed limits are coming into force outside schools on state highways in Northland and north Auckland, targeting the times when children are most active around our schools.

As part of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) School Speed Limit Programme, electronic variable speed limit signs will display a variable speed limit during peak school traffic times to slow traffic past the school, with the next group of signs in the region going live this week.

“Setting safe speed limits around schools improves safety for all tamariki and whānau as they come in and out of school,” says Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations, Jacqui Hori-Hoult.

It’s part of the Government’s new approach to setting speed limits on New Zealand roads, which came into force on 30 October 2024.

Under the new rule, by the 1 July 2026, schools that have gates alongside a state highway must have variable speed limits of 60km/h or lower depending on the road environment the school is located on.

Variable speed limits are displayed on electronic signs that can be switched on and off at specific times.

“The lower speeds will be set during school drop-off and pick-up times and are enforceable.

“The school and NZTA may also turn the signs on for activities such as late starts, or early finish times, or school functions, when there is similar risk to tamariki.” Ms Hori-Hoult says.

When operating, the variable speed limit will appear on a flashing electronic sign. If the sign is not turned on, the normal permanent speed limit applies.

The next batch of school variable speed limits for Northland and North Auckland will be going live week beginning Monday 24 November, with the remaining ones during the first half of 2026, as shown in this table:

* No change to existing VSL of 60km/h on SH1 past Pākaraka School.

The variable speed limits came into effect outside 7 schools in the Coromandel Peninsula in late August. Schools in other parts of New Zealand will follow from December 2025 (around 200 in total).

Notes:

• As per the Rule, variable speed limits (VSLs) for all schools will be 60km/h or lower. The only schools which will not be treated with a VSL are those which have an existing permanent speed that is compliant with the Rule’s requirements.
• VSL times are at the start and end time of the school travel period, not exceeding 45 minutes either side of the bell. The signs may also be activated for up to 10 minutes at other times when there are significant numbers of children around (for example when arriving at or leaving a sports day).
• Category 1 Schools (30km/h) were chosen in line with international best practice that 30km/h is the safer speed on roads and streets where a high number of tamariki are present or where we are wanting to encourage more walking, biking or scootering to and from school. This is because people who walk or ride bikes have a strong chance of surviving a crash and avoiding serious injury if the person driving is travelling at 30km/h or less. The risk of death or serious injury doubles between 30km/h and 40km/h, and doubles again at 50km/h.
• Category two schools (50km/h or 60km/h) are more likely to be in areas where pupils are generally driven or bus to school, as distances make walking, cycling and scootering less practical, and where a pick-up/drop-off space is provided off road.
• Generally, NZTA will install a variable speed limit to either side of a school entrance on the state highway. This limit will extend approximately 150m either side of the gate for category 1 schools, or 300m either side of the gate for category 2 schools. However, these extents may differ, depending on the roading environment.

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