Speed Limit Changes Coming to Tamahere and Tauwhare Roads

Residents across Tamahere and Tauwhare will begin seeing new speed limit signs installed from 20 July, as Waikato District Council rolls out its 2025 Speed Management Plan across the district. The programme will see approximately 270 sections of road updated, with installation expected to be completed by early September. Each new speed limit becomes legally enforceable once the new signs are in place.

The changes form part of Council's wider road safety programme and focus on roads around schools, marae, community facilities and locations identified through crash history, community requests and previous speed limit consultations. Work will begin around schools before moving to the wider road network.

For the Tamahere and Tauwhare area, a number of local roads will be affected:

• Tauwhare Road will reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h between Hoeka Road and Platt Road.

• The existing 80km/h section on Tauwhare Road between Woodcock Road and the surrounding area will reduce further to 60km/h, with Council extending this lower-speed zone a further 100 metres east of Woodcock Road following community feedback.

• Hunter Road (SH26 to Tauwhare Road) will reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h.

• Platt Road will reduce from 80km/h to 60km/h south of SH26.

• Shaw Road, Catra Place and Ringer Road will all reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h, along with several other rural roads throughout the ward.

The plan also confirms updated school speed limits for several local schools:

• Tauwhare School will receive a new 50/30km/h variable speed limit on Scotsman Valley Road, operating between 8.30–9.15am and 2.45–3.30pm on school days.

• Matangi School will also move to a 50/30km/h variable speed limit on Matangi Road.

• Tamahere Model Country School will continue with a variable speed zone on Devine Road, changing from the current 50/40km/h arrangement to 50/30km/h during school peak times.

• Waikato Montessori Education Centre on Newell Road will also introduce a 50/30km/h variable speed limit.

Council says the objective is to make speeds 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," said Transportation Safety Engineer Janette Underwood.

Most installation work will take place within road berms and is not expected to significantly disrupt traffic, although motorists are encouraged to take extra care around work crews and to watch for newly installed speed limit signs as they appear.

Residents wishing to view detailed maps and the full list of affected roads can access Waikato District Council's 2025 Speed Management Plan. DOWNLOAD .PDF HERE

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