A Tauranga roundabout will get safety improvements after nearly three dozen crashes in six years. But a resident who has had to fix his fence four times is “somewhat sceptical” that the changes will make any difference. There have been 32 crashes at the roundabout intersecting Waihi Rd, Otūmoetai Rd and Cambridge Rd in Judea since 2020 – and most have been caused by driver behaviour. Tauranga City Council is introducing measures to cut speed through the roundabout. Higher speeds had been identified as a problem, especially from the Waihi Rd west approach.
The Waihi/Otumoetai/Cambridge Rd roundabout. Image / Tauranga City Council, Land Information NZ
Transport strategy and assurance manager Karen Hay said the investigation found the roundabout’s signs and road markings met standards and clearly indicated give-way requirements.
Crashes were mainly linked to “driver decision-making”.
However, the council would introduce two lanes on the Waihī Rd west approach, install limit lines at the Waihi Rd pedestrian crossing, and refresh road markings throughout the roundabout.
The proposed two-lane layout aimed to slow drivers down, reducing the chance of crashes and helping traffic move through the intersection more smoothly.
17 were poor observation and four were proven instances of alcohol involvement.
It said 14 crashes occurred around the Otūmoetai Rd exit and 10 occurred on the eastern Waihi Rd exit.
Judea resident Chris Brazendale has lived on the corner of the roundabout for 16 years, and motorists have crashed into his fence four times.
Brazendale spoke to Local Democracy Reporting at the time of the fourth incident in August.
He said the number of crashes reported by NZTA roughly matched what he assumed, and the council had contacted him about the planned changes.
“It’s better than nothing, but I have to say, I am somewhat sceptical as to whether it will make much difference.”
Western Bay of Plenty area road policing manager Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter said police encouraged safe and alert driving at all times.
He recommended avoiding distractions, driving within the speed limit and not driving impaired.
He said alcohol and drugs were a factor in about a third of all crashes. “If you’re under the influence, don’t drive at all.”
Ayla Yeoman is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in communications, politics and international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
2 comments
Speed
Posted on 08-09-2026 08:41 | By The Sage
A large part of the problem, as I see it is speed of cars coming from the Bethlehem side of Waihi Road. They have clear vision off the road however the road drops down and if you are coming from Otumoetai Road, cars aren’t visible. Therefore if they are travelling too fast it is dangerous. I have nearly been hit on two occasions because of this.
Make them pay
Posted on 08-09-2026 12:14 | By Wigan
So here we have hundreds of thousand of tax payer dollars being spent on "fixing" an intersection that hundreds of thousands of people have managed to navigate safely. ALL because 32 people are to ignorant or stupid to obey a basic road rule. Make them pay for the damage & not just in $s... get them out there doing some labour to fix Mr Brazendale's fence.
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