New variable speed zones around schools will be “actively enforced”, Western Bay of Plenty police say.

A new Ministry of Transport rule came into effect in October 2024, requiring streets outside urban school gates to have a 30km/h variable speed limit by July 1.

Rural schools must have a variable speed limit of 60km/h or less.

The lower speeds will apply for up to 45 minutes during school drop-off and pick-up times.

Schools can also activate the signs for short periods at other especially busy times, such as school sport days.

It means changes for schools where a Tauranga City Council-initiated 40km/h variable limit had previously been in place.

The council has been installing new variable speed zone signs - covered for now - outside schools since late 2024.

Council manager for transport strategy and assurance Karen Hay said these would start being uncovered on a rolling basis between late May and early June.

Western Bay of Plenty head of road policing Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter said variable speed signs were already active on the highways outside ACG Tauranga and Kaimai School on State Highway 29.

A variable speed limit sign like this will manage speeds outside schools at certain times. Photo / NZTA

The speed limits at both locations would reduce from 100km/h to 60km/h when the signs were active.

Hunter said it could be a big adjustment for motorists in those areas.

The initial focus for police would be educating drivers, but from July, “she’ll be all on”, he said.

He asked that motorists be aware of the new variable speed school zones as they came into force, and adjust their speed accordingly.

“The reduced speed limits will be actively enforced,” Hunter said.

“Please take extra care when travelling through school zones and help keep our tamariki safe.”

Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter. Photo / Alex Cairns

The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi website said variable speed limit signs would be installed outside all schools with gates on state highways by July 1.

Other affected local schools included Pahoia School on State Highway 2, where the 100km/h limit will drop to 60km/h when signs are active, and Pyes Pā Road School, from 80km/h to 30km/h.

Kaimai School principal Matthew Jackson told NZME in February that its variable speed limit of 60km/h would be in place from 8am-9am and 2.20pm-3pm.

Jackson said the school was confident the new variable signs, with effective enforcement of these limits, would go a long way towards reducing the risk to the students and families of Kaimai School.