Whangarei motorists should watch out for a new speed limit at Maunu between Silverstream and Austins roads, but the reduction can't come soon enough for residents of the busy stretch of state highway.
The speed limit on the residential 2.7km stretch of State Highway 14 will be reduced from 70km/h to 60km/h from tomorrow.
Sciadopity's Garden Centre owner Peter Ruddell, who subdivided the land there and developed the adjacent Maunu Village complex, said the NZ Transport Agency had been promising to drop the speed limit from 70km to 60km for five years.
"It's about time, it's only four and a half years late," Mr Ruddell said.
When the Maunu Village development was put through its consent process, Mr Ruddell said his company presented an NZTA report as evidence the speed limit was going to be lowered. Consent to build the complex had partly hinged on that speed limit.