Mayor drives ‘Safer at 80’ campaign

Mayor drives ‘Safer at 80’ campaign

Community leaders are supporting a campaign aimed at keeping speed limits down on a stretch of Horowhenua highway so notorious it has been labelled a “killing field”.

The government is proposing to increase speed limits on large stretches of highway between Taitoko/Levin and Ōtaki from 80km/h to 100km/h.  

Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden is spearheading a “Safer at 80” campaign as NZTA Waka Kotahi gathers public feedback.

Mayor Bernie wants marae, residents, businesses, schools and community groups to do the same. 

‘The more submissions NZTA receives, the more weight they will give to community feedback,” he says. “I urge you to have your say via the NZTA website – search for ‘speed consultation’ to find your way to the online survey.”

Tukorehe kaumātua Lindsay Poutama says he supports the campaign. Tukorehe Marae is on SH1 at Kuku south of Taitoko/Levin.

“Our research tells us there have been no deaths in those areas of road since the speed limit was reduced,” he says. “This road was first constructed in 1893 to be used by horse and cart. There has been an exponential increase in speed and vehicle number since.”

Lindsay says the ever-increasing numbers of agricultural vehicles and general traffic, coupled with the number of entry and exit points on the highway, brought an increased risk and driver anxiety.

It has been more than 20 years since the late Phil Comber, in his role as coronor, famously called the stretch of road  “a killing field marked like a battlefield with white crosses”.

Bernie says a critical statistic is that there have been no deaths on those stretches of road since speed limits were dropped to 80km/h.

“Hard data show lower speed limits in the area save lives, with minimal difference in travel time.”

He says the government plans would see  speeds revert to 100km/h on SH1 from Ōhau to Manakau, Manakau to the Pukehou overbridge, and SH57 from SH1 to Heatherlea East Road. 

“These are very busy stretches of road, which run past marae, businesses, multiple side roads and the Speldhurst retirement village,” he says. “They are also essential to our many produce growers, whose tractor and trailer units take lots of road space and travel at low speeds.” 

“We know for a fact that since speed limits dropped to 80 km/h in 2022 these roads have been safer . . . before the speeds came down it was known as one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the country.

“I’ve talked to many community members who are worried about what will happen if the speed limit goes back up.”

He says the council will be making a submission and wants marae, residents, businesses, schools and community groups to do the same. 

‘The more submissions NZTA receives, the more weight they will give to community feedback. I urge you to have your say via the NZTA website – search for ‘speed consultation’ to find your way to the online survey.”