A motorcyclist has died on a notorious stretch of highway just 22 days after the speed limit was lifted from 80km/h to 100km/h.
The motorcycle and a car collided on Tuesday about 10.20am on State Highway 1 north of Kuku near Whakahoro Road. Police confirmed the motorcyclist died at the scene and a second person sustained minor injuries.

Busy traffic on a stretch of State Highway 1 near Kuku. Photo Horowhenua Star
The road was closed in both directions on Tuesday between Kuku East Road and Whakahoro Road until about 2.30pm to allow the police serious crash unit to investigate the scene.
Tokurehe Marae opened its doors to motorists waiting for the road to be reopened, offering toilets, a safe place to wait, cups of tea and a space for children.
Te Tai Hauāuru MP Debbie Ngarewa Packer was caught up in the traffic and just a few cars back from the accident scene.
“I knew the local mana whenua who helped the first responders and assisted in placing karakia and blessings to the deceased,” she said. “They were very caring and respectful.
“They have been extremely concerned about the speed limit increasing. As I saw yesterday they are the ones who care deeply for the safety and wellbeing of all travelling through their area. My view is locals know best and should be listened to.”
Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden said the crash was “incredibly tragic”, but it was too early to tell whether speed was a factor.
“I hope not,” he said. “It could have had all sorts of causes and I have found travelling at 100 km/h on that road often isn’t even possible much of the time.
“If speed turns out to be factor, serious questions need to be asked.”
Ōtaki MP Tim Costley said it was always tragic to see any deaths or injury on any road in New Zealand.
“It’s too early to know the situation or the cause of this awful accident, and it’s important to let the police do their important job.”
Tim said he was pleased that work had begun on the new Ō2NL expressway.
“This is the ultimate solution to road safety and the completion [planned for 2029] can’t come soon enough.”
Tuesday’s was the first fatal crash to occur on State Highway 1 between Ōhau and Ōtaki since late 2022, when the speed limit was reduced to 80 km/h. On July 1 this year, NZTA Waka Kotahi increased the speed limit back up to 100km/h.
Along with the speed reduction in 2022, safety improvements were also made by NZTA.
Former coroner Philip Comber had said the road had become “a killing field marked like a battlefield with white crosses” over a 25-year period. It was due to a high number of fatal and serious traffic accidents.
The speed limit was lowered on parts of SH1 and SH57 due to safety concerns, including multiple intersections, driveways, sharp corners, and increased roadside development with pedestrian and cycle activity.
After consultation this year, NZTA put the speed back to 100km/h on many highways. Several roads in Horowhenua were included, after the majority of submitters were in favour of higher limits – the majority of submitters who were local, however, were not in favour.
Horowhenua residents as well as Kāpiti and Horowhenua councils campaigned to keep the limits at 80km/h for safety reasons, citing the state of the road and the many side roads and driveways that connect to it.
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