If the legal open road speed limit was dropped to 80km/h under a little-publicised measure of the Government's worst-case fuel crisis contingency plan, higher speed signs would remain unchanged - creating potential driver confusion.
Following the war in Iran and impact on global oil supplies, the Government released details of potential fuel-saving measures. Among them was a proposal to drop the maximum speed limit nationwide, which was detailed in a Ministry of Transport impact statement finalised on May 14 alongside two heavy vehicle measures.
But when Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Regulation Minister David Seymour issued their joint announcement on May 20, the speed limit option was absent.
"The decision was made to focus the press release on the heavy vehicle regulatory relief proposals, particularly the changes that would be made permanently or at earlier phases of the fuel response," a spokesperson for Bishop told 1News.
But the spokesperson confirmed the speed limit reduction plan has not been shelved.
"The 80km/h speed limit option remains part of Phase Four of the National Fuel Response Plan."
The limit would apply to all vehicles on open roads if New Zealand faced a severe and prolonged fuel shortage. Phase Four is the most extreme level of the plan and would also trigger fuel rationing at pumps and spot checks on businesses.
Nicola Willis outlines phase one of fuel security plan as stocks remain at normal levels. (Source: 1News)
The Government's preferred approach was to enforce the lower limit without changing physical signs. The spokesperson said it would "likely be implemented through a 'maximum travel speed' set out in rules but applying without new signage".
The ministry's impact statement estimated changing signs would cost between $1 million and $2.25 million and take longer to implement.
But the document acknowledged the approach carried risks.
NZ Police and NZTA advised the mismatch between posted signs and the legal limit could cause confusion and lower compliance. Drivers would need to follow the 80km/h rule rather than the 100km/h or 110km/h signs still on the road.
Heavy vehicles are already limited to 90km/h on the open road. For those drivers, the change would amount to a 10km/h reduction, with the impact statement noting increased travel time was not expected to be as significant as for light vehicles.
Modelling by the ministry suggested the 80km/h limit could save 34 million litres of petrol and 50 million litres of diesel over six months, cutting use by 2.3% and 2.9% respectively.
Officials also assessed a 90km/h option, projected to save 20 million litres of petrol and 14 million litres of diesel over the same period, but ministers opted for the option of the deeper cut.
New Zealand has remained at Phase One of the fuel response plan since it was first updated on March 27 following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
MBIE said fuel supply was stable and within normal levels.
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