Safer Speeds Outside Schools
As a result of the Speed Management Plan that was approved by Timaru District Council and The New Zealand Transport Agency: Waka Kotahi in early 2024, safer speeds have been introduced throughout Timaru District around schools since July 2024 as below:
URBAN SCHOOLS - 30km/hr:
Speed limits arounds schools were reduced to a 30km/h permanent or variable speed limit for urban schools throughout the district. Research shows that speed limits in school zones are most effective between 300-500m long. Drivers tend to slow down if the zone is between these lengths, we took this into consideration when developing the speed limit zones.
The schools with variable speeds have been equipped with electronic signs flashing the reduced speed during school drop-off and pick-up times when students are most at risk.
These speed reductions are crucial for our community; research undertaken within New Zealand and Australia shows that if a person walking is hit by a car travelling at 50km/h, the chance of survival is 20%, compared to if a person is hit by a car travelling at 30km/h, the chance of survival increases to 90%.
RURAL SCHOOLS: 60km/hr
Our rural schools have a 60km/h permanent or variable speed limit due to a lower volume of active transport used in these areas.
SCHOOLS ON STATE HIGHWAYS:
Schools that face our state highways are controlled by NZTA and therefore different speeds are currently in place on some roads around these schools. This includes Timaru South School and Roncalli College (Craigie Ave, State Highway 1) and Geraldine Primary School (Cox Street, State Highway 79).
SCHOOL SPEED MAPS:
Click on the link below to access the full document of map images showing the affected areas.
Minor Amendments to School Speed Zones - June 2025
The new Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024, which came into force in October 2024 outlined some new requirements for speed limits arounds schools. As a result, Timaru District Council needs to make some minor changes to our existing school speed limits, including:
- Schools on local streets with a permanent 30 speed limit will change to variable speed limits.
- All variable school speed limits now have consistent hours across the District from 8.20am-9.00am in the morning and 2.50pm-3.30pm in the afternoon.
- Some school speed limit zones have been reduced to a shorter length covering the area immediately outside of the school gate.
Once all physical changes have been implemented, we will update the maps on this page.
Last updated: 10 Feb 2026