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Safer speed proposal for Selwyn roads a step closer

New speed limits for roads across Waikirikiri Selwyn are a step closer.

At its meeting on Wednesday 21 October 2026, the Council approved the Hearings Panel’s recommendations on the proposed speed limit changes.

You can view the discussion and decision in the Council meeting recording and see the list of changes on pages 194-199 of the Council agenda.

A Hearings Panel heard submissions on 24 July 2026 and deliberated on 20 August and 10 September 2026. The Panel considered every written and spoken submission alongside crash data and technical advice. Views were mixed, and the Panel changed some proposals as a result:

  • Leeston, Longstaffs, Trices and Telegraph roads: the Panel changed how far the new speed limits extend.
  • Arthur’s Pass: the speed limit will stay at 50km/h.

Councillors agreed to send a list of proposed changes to the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) for approval.

Selwyn is one of the fastest growing districts in New Zealand. Many roads that once carried mostly rural traffic now connect new homes and schools, and more people walk and cycle on them.

The proposal includes:

Proposed new speed

Roads

30 km/h

Christensen Parade and Rōhutu Way

40 km/h

All local roads in Selwyn Huts and Rakaia Huts

50 km/h

sections of Greendale, McLaughlins and Telegraph roads near Darfield, and on Dunsandel Brookside and Leeston Dunsandel roads

60 km/h

sections of Hamptons, Longstaffs, Trices, Collins and Timber Yard, Aylesbury and Hororātā roads

80 km/h

Claire, Rattletrack, Shands, Springston Rolleston, Waterholes and Weedons roads, and on sections of Goulds and Leeston roads

What was consulted on

The Council proposed changes to speeds at 41 locations.

The locations included in this consultation were selected based on several key factors. Some roads are already experiencing changes from new housing developments or infrastructure projects that are changing how these roads are used meaning the speed limits may no longer be suitable. For some roads crashes have increased as the traffic use changes and the proposals aim to protect all road users. Others have been proposed for consistency with similar surrounding roads, or at the request of those communities.

These changes aim to:

  • Support growth and changes in land use
  • Improve safety for everyone who uses our roads
  • Keep our transport network running efficiently

While speed isn’t the only factor in a crash, it does determine whether someone is seriously injured or killed. These changes are part of the Council’s commitment to building a safer, more connected community for everyone.

Each proposed speed change was backed by cost benefit analysis, weighing up the likely safety benefits, impact on travel times, and costs to implement.

The consultation will run for six weeks from 11 May to 22 June 2026.

Timeline and next steps

We are required to consult on proposed speed limit changes for six weeks under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024.

Once consultation closes, we will review all the feedback we receive from the community to help us finalise our Alternative Method Proposal (any proposed speed changes).

We will then submit the final proposal to the Director of Land Transport along with a summary of submissions and a Cost Benefit Disclosure Statement. NZTA will assess the proposal and decide whether to approve the changes.

If approved, we will notify the community and update speed signs before the new limits come into effect.

Timeline

11 May
Consultation opens

22 June
Consultation closes

20 August and 10 September
Hearings

21 October
Council decision on proposed speed limit changes to be submitted to the Director of Land Transport for consideration.