The 1.8-km stretch of road was initially set to be raised to 80kmh in July, but Waka Kotahi / New Zealand Transport Agency decided to engage in public consultation after facing backlash from the local residents.
The road passes through Marybank at Atawhai, near Clifton Terrace School and several residential areas. The community rallied against the proposed speed limit change, expressing their concerns to the transport minister.
After receiving significant feedback indicating a preference for maintaining the 60kmh speed limit, Waka Kotahi confirmed that 76% of the 1787 submissions supported the existing limit. The focus was on ensuring the safety of children, particularly those walking or biking to Clifton Terrace School.
Emily Osborne, from Parents for Active Transport, expressed relief at the decision to retain the 60kmh speed limit. The group, initially formed to enhance safety on the cycleway for children commuting to school, shifted its focus to preserving the current highway speed limit.
Osborne criticized the government’s decision to reverse the speed limit reduction, emphasizing that safety should be prioritized over speed. She highlighted the importance of maintaining a safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists, especially in areas frequented by children.
The outcome was described as “bittersweet” by Osborne, as similar speed limit increases on other sections of SH6 were rolled back. Concerns were raised about the potential for increased accidents and fatalities if speed limits were raised without proper consideration for safety.
In another instance on SH6 near Wakefield, a similar consultation resulted in the decision to keep the speed limit at 60kmh, following feedback from 49% of the 633 submissions supporting the existing limit.
Nelson’s Labour MP, Rachel Boyack, commended the community for standing up against the speed limit changes and emphasized the importance of evidence-based decision-making in road safety measures. She highlighted the need for a more flexible approach to speed management to prevent unnecessary consultations and reversals of speed limits.
Despite the success in retaining the 60kmh speed limit in some areas, concerns remain about other sections of SH6 where speed increases have been implemented despite community opposition. Boyack called for a more comprehensive and community-centered approach to speed management to ensure the safety of all road users.
