LG26-0163 – Speed Limit Reductions, Enforcement Revenue

Summary NZTA have the council tied into providing a roading signage scheme that yields money , that is taken out of the district and has nothing to do with safety as we know it. AS no Govt agency can / will define it.

 

5 June 2026
Tracy Lynch
Sent via email to [email protected]
Request for Official Information

LG26-0163 – Speed Limit Reductions, Enforcement Revenue

Dear Tracy,
Thank you for your request for information held by the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC). On
15 May 2026 you requested the following information under the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA):

This request concerns speed-limit reductions, enforcement planning, fine revenue, road-safety
evidence, and the financial impact on the public. For the period 1 January 2020 to the date of this
request [15 May 2026], please provide:

1. Decision-making records
All final decision papers, briefings, reports, memoranda, approvals, or recommendations relied
upon when deciding to reduce speed limits on roads within your authority or responsibility.

2. Safety evidence
All crash data, risk assessments, road-safety assessments, engineering reports, speed-management
assessments, and safety modelling relied upon to justify speed-limit reductions.

3. Revenue and enforcement modelling
Any documents, forecasts, estimates, briefings, or internal analysis concerning infringement
revenue, fine revenue, enforcement volume, camera enforcement, Police enforcement targets, or
expected enforcement outcomes connected with reduced speed limits.

4. Cost-benefit analysis
Any cost-benefit analysis, economic assessment, productivity assessment, travel-time assessment,
freight impact assessment, or public affordability assessment undertaken before or after speed-
limit reductions.

5. Public consultation
All final consultation summaries, submissions analysis, public feedback reports, and decision-maker
advice concerning public support or opposition to the speed-limit reductions.

6. Alternatives considered
Any documents identifying less restrictive or less punitive alternatives considered, including road
engineering, signage, road maintenance, hazard removal, intersection redesign, education, or
targeted enforcement rather than blanket speed reduction.

7. Delegations and authority
The statutory provisions, delegations, warrants, authorisations, or internal authority relied upon by
the decision-makers who approved the speed-limit reductions.

8. Review or reversal documents
Any documents concerning review, reconsideration, reversal, or criticism of speed-limit reductions,
including any documents created in response to the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits
2024 or subsequent amendments.

QLDC RESPONSE
In response to your request, the QLDC Strategy and Infrastructure Planning Team was consulted.
Decision to release information

1. All final decision papers, briefings, reports, memoranda, approvals, or recommendations
relied upon when deciding to reduce speed limits on roads within your authority or
responsibility.
Records relating to speed-limit reductions are publicly available on QLDC’s website:
• Full Council | QLDC / 2023 / 31 August 2023
• 5 August 2025 Full Council Workshop | QLDC
• 04 February 2026 Full Council Workshop | QLDC
• 19 March 2026 Full Council Meeting | QLDC

2. All crash data, risk assessments, road-safety assessments, engineering reports, speed-
management assessments, and safety modelling relied upon to justify speed-limit
reductions.

Attached is the Project Plan Development Report, which reflects an early-stage analysis of proposed
speed limit changes under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024. Please note that not all proposed
changes outlined in this review were incorporated into the final proposed 2026 Speed Management
Plan (SMP).

The roads and urban development areas proposed for speed limit changes were assessed in
accordance with Schedule 3 of the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024. Updated crash data and
assessments relating to the proposed changes are also available within the associated cost-benefit
statement.

Further details regarding the assessments undertaken will be released later this year as part of the
final adoption process for the 2026 Speed Management Plan.
Certain information within these documents has been redacted, with the reasons for these redactions
outlined below.
Note that the enclosed links will expire on 25 June 2026, 5:07 PM (UTC+12:00) Auckland, Wellington.

4. Any cost-benefit analysis, economic assessment, productivity assessment, travel-time
assessment, freight impact assessment, or public affordability assessment undertaken
before or after speed-limit reductions.
Please refer to item 5,

Attachment B (Cost Benefit Disclosure Statement) from the 19 March 2026 Full
Council Meeting, available on QLDC’s website.

6. Any documents identifying less restrictive or less punitive alternatives considered, including
road engineering, signage, road maintenance, hazard removal, intersection redesign,
education, or targeted enforcement rather than blanket speed reduction.

The proposed speed limits within the 2026 Speed Management Plan are targeted towards town
centres, new urban development areas, multi-use roads, and locations identified as being of high
community concern. The proposal does not involve blanket speed reductions across the district. Speed
management is recognised as one of the most effective tools for reducing road deaths and serious
injuries, particularly within a financially constrained environment where funding for physical upgrades
to the roading network is limited. Engineering roads and intersections to safely accommodate higher
vehicle speeds is often prohibitively expensive.

Safe speeds, including the setting of appropriate speed limits, are one of the four key components of
a safe road system. It is important that speed limits are aligned with the surrounding road
environment and the needs of all road users.

QLDC’s primary mechanism for delivering physical road safety improvements is through the Minor
Works Programme. This programme is consistently oversubscribed and supports a broad range of
transport outcomes, including road safety, public transport, active travel, and accessibility
improvements.
As noted above, the enforcement of speed limits is not undertaken by QLDC, as this function sits with
New Zealand Police.

7. The statutory provisions, delegations, warrants, authorisations, or internal authority relied
upon by the decision-makers who approved the speed-limit reductions.

No speed limits within the district have been changed since 2019. Full Council is scheduled to consider
the final list of proposed speed limit changes in August 2026 and will make the final decision regarding
any changes to be implemented later in the year.

Following Council approval, the Speed Management Plan will be submitted to the New Zealand
Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) for the Director’s approval. Subject to that approval,
implementation of the associated signage changes across the network will then commence.

Prior to 2020, speed limits within the district were set under the QLDC Speed Limits Bylaw 2019. This
bylaw was subsequently revoked following the introduction of the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2022,
which required Road Controlling Authorities (RCAs) to prepare Speed Management Plans and record
all speed limits within the National Speed Limit Register (NSLR). Before QLDC was able to implement
any changes under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2022, the new coalition Government directed that
work on Speed Management Plans be paused pending introduction of the Setting of Speed Limits Rule
2024.

The proposed 2026 Speed Management Plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements
and process set out under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024.

8. Any documents concerning review, reconsideration, reversal, or criticism of speed-limit
reductions, including any documents created in response to the Land Transport Rule: Setting
of Speed Limits 2024 or subsequent amendments.

Under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024, Road Controlling Authorities (RCAs) were required to
review all speed limit changes made since 1 January 2020.

QLDC last implemented speed limit changes under the QLDC Speed Limits Bylaw 2019. Following
review, it was determined that no speed limit reversals were required within the district under the
Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024.

Attached is the Analysis of Alignment Report, which documents the speed limit changes previously
made under the QLDC Speed Limits Bylaw 2019 and assesses those changes against the requirements
of the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024. The report confirms that no reversals were required within
the district. This analysis was completed and submitted to NZTA within the timeframe required under
the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024.

Certain information within these documents has been redacted, with the reasons for these redactions
outlined below.
Note that the enclosed link will expire on 25 June 2026, 5:08 PM (UTC+12:00) Auckland, Wellington.
Decision to refuse information

QLDC has good reason under section 17(e) of the LGOIMA for refusing the information requested in
items 3 and 5 of your request. QLDC considers it is necessary to refuse the requested information on
the basis of the following grounds:

• Section 17(e) – that the document alleged to contain the information requested does not exist
or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
Section 17(e) of the LGOIMA clarifies that a local authority is not required to provide information that
it does not hold, or that cannot be located despite reasonable efforts. This ensures that agencies are
not required to create new information in order to respond to a request.
While reasonable steps have been taken to identify any information within scope of items 3 and 5 of
your request, including consultation with the relevant QLDC team, no relevant information has been
identified.

3. Any documents, forecasts, estimates, briefings, or internal analysis concerning infringement
revenue, fine revenue, enforcement volume, camera enforcement, Police enforcement
targets, or expected enforcement outcomes connected with reduced speed limits.
In this case, QLDC does not issue traffic infringements relating to speeding on local roads, nor does it
receive any associated infringement or fine revenue. Accordingly, potential revenue arising from
speed limit changes is not assessed, forecast, or taken into consideration when determining proposed
speed limit changes.

5. All final consultation summaries, submissions analysis, public feedback reports, and
decision-maker advice concerning public support or opposition to the speed-limit
reductions.

In this case, public consultation relating to the 2026 Speed Management Plan closed on 10 May 2026.
QLDC is currently analysing the submissions received and, accordingly, this information is not yet
available. QLDC intends to present the consultation analysis and final proposed speed limit changes
to the Full Council meeting in August 2026, at which time the information will become publicly
available.

Separate consultation was also undertaken with key stakeholders, including New Zealand Police, Fire
and Emergency New Zealand, all schools within the district, and community associations. Feedback
from these groups is currently being analysed alongside the public submissions. An Engagement
Summary will be prepared and made publicly available as part of the final reporting process.
As a local authority, QLDC is committed to providing access to information that it holds. However,
pursuant to section 17(e) of the LGOIMA, QLDC is unable to provide the requested information
because this information is not recorded.

Decision to withhold information
QLDC has good reason under section 7(2)(f)(ii) of the LGOIMA for withholding part of the information
requested in items 2 and 8 of your request. QLDC considers it is necessary to withhold the requested
information on the basis of the following grounds:

• Section 7(2)(f) – the withholding of the information is necessary to maintain the effective
conduct of public affairs through—
(ii) the protection of such members, officers, employees, and persons from improper
pressure or harassment.

Section 7(2)(f)(ii) of the LGOIMA protects individuals—such as members, officers, and employees—
from improper pressure or harassment, ensuring the effective conduct of public affairs. This provision
safeguards public officials from undue influence or intimidation, enabling them to perform their duties
impartially and effectively.

2. All crash data, risk assessments, road-safety assessments, engineering reports, speed-
management assessments, and safety modelling relied upon to justify speed-limit
reductions.

8. Any documents concerning review, reconsideration, reversal, or criticism of speed-limit
reductions, including any documents created in response to the Land Transport Rule: Setting
of Speed Limits 2024 or subsequent amendments.

In this case, while the roles of individuals involved have been disclosed in the records provided in
response to items 2 and 8 of your request, names and contact details have been withheld to prevent
the risk of harassment. This is particularly important given the nature of the subject matter, which is
of high public interest and sensitivity. The protection of these individuals from improper pressure or
harassment takes precedence over the public interest in disclosing specific information. Releasing the
names and contact emails could potentially lead to undue pressure or intimidation, which could
undermine the effective conduct of public affairs and harm the safety and well-being of those
involved.
Therefore, withholding this information is justified to preserve both individual rights and the integrity
of public offices.

Public interest considerations
In assessing whether to withhold information, QLDC carefully evaluates the public interest—
particularly whether disclosure would enhance transparency, accountability, or informed public
engagement. This assessment includes weighing those benefits against the potential harm that could
result from releasing the information.

QLDC acknowledges the public interest in transparency, accountability, and good governance in local
authority decision-making, and is committed to releasing information wherever possible. However, in
this instance, QLDC considers that the public interest in disclosure is outweighed by the need to
protect officers, employees, and individuals from improper pressure or harassment. Releasing this
information would be likely to unreasonably expose officers and private individuals to improper
pressure or harassment.

Accordingly, QLDC has determined that section 7(2)(f)(ii) of the LGOIMA applies. No overriding public
interest has been identified that would justify release of the withheld information.

Right to review the above decision
You have the right to request an investigation and review of this decision by the Ombudsman under
section 27(3) of the LGOIMA. Further information is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
by calling 0800 802 602.

If you wish to discuss this decision with QLDC, please contact [email protected] (Director
Democracy Services).
QLDC trusts that the above information satisfactorily answers your request.
Kind regards,
Larissa
Democracy Services Team
Corporate Services | Queenstown Lakes District Council
P: +64 3 441 0499
E: [email protected]