Drivers will need to keep an eye on the speedo and the roadside signs, with speed limit changes now being rolled out across the Whakatāne district.

New signs are being installed at 15 locations in Te Teko, Thornton, Shaw Road, Ōhope, Waiōhau, Manawahe and Matahina following Whakatāne District Council’s speed limit review last year.

The review looked at roads where there were known safety concerns, where the existing speed limit didn’t fit with how the road or surrounding area was being used, or where communities had asked the council to consider a lower speed.

Following public consultation, council approved several speed limit changes across the district in August 2025, with decisions informed by technical assessments, crash data and community feedback.

Now, those approved changes are making their way from decisions on paper to signs on the roadside.

Transportation manager Ann-Elise Reynolds said each road was considered on its merits.

“These aren’t one-size-fits-all changes. Each road was looked at individually, taking into account things like its crash history, how the road and surrounding area are used, and feedback from the local community.

“Now that the signs are going up, we’re asking people to take notice of what’s changed on the roads they use regularly and adjust their speed accordingly.”

Police have been advised of the changes as they are rolled out, recognising that there will be an adjustment period as people become familiar with the new speed limits. Drivers are still expected to take notice of the new signage and travel to the posted speed limit.

The changes are being introduced progressively, with some locations already completed and others being installed now. Further approved changes at the Thornton Road intersections with East Bank Road and West Bank Road, and on Galatea Road at Matahina Dam, are still to come and aren’t part of the current rollout.

Drivers should keep an eye out for new signage as the rollout continues and follow the posted speed limit.

More information about the Local Road Speed Limits project is available on the council’s website whakatane.govt.nz