New school speed signs being installed across Palmerston North
Published on 29 May 2026
New speed limits around Palmerston North schools will be in place from the start of term 3 as part of the Government’s plan to improve safety for children travelling to and from school.
Fulton Hogan is installing the new variable speed limit (VSL) signs outside schools across the city in June as part of our Speed Management Plan adopted in April. The changes are required to meet the Government’s national road safety plan.
A variable speed limit is a static and/or electronic speed sign that only lowers the speed limit during school pick-up and drop-off times, when there are more children and families travelling to and from school. Outside these times, the normal speed limit applies.
Fulton Hogan plans to have all new signs installed by 30 June, with the electronic signs going live for the start of term 3 on Monday, 20 July. Drivers and school communities can expect to see roadworks on the streets around our city’s schools over the coming weeks.
Council staff have worked with each school to confirm their start and finish times and have programmed the signs accordingly.
Mayor Grant Smith says these changes will make roads safer at the times our children are most at risk around busy school gates.
“We know school drop-off and pick-up times can be some of the busiest and most unpredictable periods on our roads. The electronic signs are about creating safer roads around our schools and reminding drivers to slow down when children are around.”
Mayor Grant encourages motorists to take extra care near schools where Fulton Hogan is installing poles, signs and any other electronic cabling or infrastructure.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is installing variable speed limits for three schools located on state highways – Queen Elizabeth College, Longburn School, and Aokautere School.
NZTA will also be refurbishing two rural electronic school warning signs near Turitea School following concerns raised by the school about speed limits on SH57 during consultation. While these advanced warning signs won’t reduce the speed limit on SH57, they will provide better warning to drivers when children are likely to be present around the school.