Call for lower SH1 speed near Taihape Catholic school

The school is on Rauma Rd, which connects to SH1 south of Taihape. A community consultation was held at the school on July 19, in conjunction with nearby Winiata Marae.

The community wants NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to place a speed restriction on SH1 just south of Winiata Marae into Taihape, accompanied by effective electronic warning signs to alert motorists to the presence of a school, marae, residential areas and frequent turning traffic.

There have been about 22 crashes on the stretch of road between 2014 and 2023, according to the SH1 Road Safety Report, with five recorded crashes in the past five years.

St Joseph’s principal Peter Hijazeen, supported by Jordan Winiata from Winiata Marae, wants the speed limit reduced to 50km/h around the intersection with Rauma Rd, school frontage and marae access, and a maximum of 80km/h from south of Taihape to Winiata Marae.

They would also like innovative and technological solutions to reduce speed during key times and a full reassessment of the road design and layout, including consideration of a turning bay for northbound traffic turning into Rauma Rd.

Mr Hijazeen said the stretch of road was vital for the Taihape community as it was used by children, families, elderly people and visitors.

“The current open road speed limit of 100km/h is inappropriate and unsafe for such a significant and heavily used community corridor,” Mr Hijazeen said.

Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson said this was not a new request but something the Rangitīkei District Council had asked for on numerous occasions, with the last request being within the past two years.

NZTA director of regional relationships Linda Stewart said NZTA acknowledged the community concerns from St Joseph’s School and Winiata Marae and had been in contact with the marae to discuss options.

Ms Stewart said NZTA’s focus was on implementing variable speed limits outside schools with gates on state highways by July 2026, as well as implementing speed changes linked to state highway projects, including intersection speed zones and seasonal speed limits.

“NZTA has now added this stretch of road to the speed review register to be considered between now and 2027. Speed reviews are dependent on available funding and prioritisation,” Ms Stewart said.

FULL STORY

Rangitīkei District Council back Taihape community’s call for improvements on State Highway 1 (By Fin Ocheduszko Brown/Whanganui Chronicle)