Waikato District Council news
Waikato District Council will begin installing new speed limit signs in Whāingaroa and across Waikato district from 20 July as it rolls out its 2025 Speed Management Plan.
Around 270 sections of road will have new speed limits. For Whāingaroa the lower limits are around the Raglan Urban Area, on Te Akau Wharf Road and around Te Mata School.
The changes include roads around schools, marae, and community facilities, along with other roads where safety concerns were identified through crash history, requests from the public, and feedback received during previous speed limit reviews.
Work will begin around schools before moving to other roads across Waikato district, with all signs expected to be installed by early September 2026. For Te Mata School (Raglan), the reduced speeds are on Te Mata Road from 270m south of Ruapuke Road to 380m south of Ruapuke Road. They are category 2 with a reduction from 50 to 40 and are Permanent
Each new speed limit will come into effect once the new signs are installed.
Council’s Transportation Safety Engineer, Janette Underwood, said the changes were about making speeds safer and more appropriate for the roads people use every day.
“Driving at a safe speed gives you more time to react if something unexpected happens and can reduce the severity of a crash. As the new signs are installed, we encourage everyone to look out for the new speeds, slow down where speed limits have changed, and take extra care around schools and busy community areas.”
The rollout includes permanent signs and electronic variable speed limit signs. Electronic signs will be installed outside some schools and will only activate during the times shown on the sign. At all other times, the permanent speed limit will apply.
Most installation work will take place in the road berm, while any road marking will generally be completed at night. The work is not expected to affect travel times, although drivers are asked to take care around work sites and watch for new speed limit signs.
Council first consulted the community on the proposed speed limit changes in late 2024 before adopting the final Speed Management Plan in 2025. The plan was certified in late November 2025.
For Ryan Road from Te Akau Wharf Road to End the speed limit is reduced from 100 kph to 30 pph. The road is designated as permanent unconventional, low-volume and low speed.
For Te Akau Wharf Road from Mangiti Road to 1.25km north of Ryan Road, the speed limit is reduced from 100 kph to 60 kp. The road is designated as permanent unsealed rural road.
To find out whether your local roads are affected and view maps of the changes, read the 2025 Speed Management Plan at waikatodistrict.govt.nz/roadsafety.