Eight people hurt in five years on 'dangerous' stretch of road

Te Paea Waetford Heketa,13, and mum Shelly Paul (front) with Te Paea's twin sister, Piata Waetford Heketa, and papa Pere Paul. Photo/Ben Fraser

Locals say it's only a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously hurt as a result of "mayhem" on a "dangerous" strip of road in Rotorua.

Strong calls are being made for more to be done on Pukuatua St, where eight people have been hurt, including two seriously, over a five-year period.

Pukuatua St, from Old Taupo Rd to where it splits and becomes Amohau St, has come under the spotlight after Te Paea Waetford Heketa, 13, was hit by a logging truck last month as she tried to cross the road.

She was knocked unconscious but didn't suffer any serious injuries.

Crash figures supplied to the Rotorua Daily Post by the New Zealand Transport Agency show for the five years between 2012 and 2016 two people were seriously injured and six suffered minor injuries in crashes on the 500m of Pukuatua St from the corner at Old Taupo Rd to where it becomes Amohau St.

Te Paea's mother Shelley Paul and papa Pere Paul have called for urgent work to be done on that stretch of road, including outside Rotorua Boys' High School.

"The road itself is four lanes and the amount of traffic that goes there at that time, it's a huge worry. It's a miracle we have come out of this with our daughter still with us but knowing the next could be a fatality is a huge thing for us," Mr Paul said.

Rotorua Boys' High School principal Chris Grinter said the school was concerned about students crossing Pukuatua St as well as cars leaving the school and turning right towards the city.

"These concerns have been raised over the years and the only response to date has seen the establishment of a hatched waiting zone in the middle of the road.

"I have stated before it is a matter of time before there is a really tragic incident or perhaps fatality. We have been relatively lucky to date but the risks for our students and staff are certainly significant."

Mr Grinter said cars leaving the school were encouraged to turn left. Those that turned right sometimes used the wait zone in the middle of the road, which can put cars and pedestrians together in the middle.

There was a further risk if cars from the school wanted to go to the city past Kahukura Rugby Club, as they needed to get into the left lane quickly, he said.

"Altogether this is a very dangerous environment especially before and after school given the build up of cars picking up and dropping off students and 100 staff and student vehicles all exiting through our busy front entrance. It is indeed mayhem in Pukuatua St at these times."

Transport Agency highways manager Niclas Johansson said the agency was working with the Rotorua Lakes Council on the Connect Rotorua project, which would see improvements made to State Highway 30a from Sala St to Old Taupo Rd in the coming years.

"We will deliver improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists near Amohau St and support the revitalisation of the inner city. We have just completed consultation on four options for the walking/cycling improvements."

He said feedback was being collated and a preferred option would be announced later this year.

Pukuatua St
- Eight injury crashes, including two serious and six minor injuries, in five years to end of 2016
- NZTA looking at pedestrian and cycling improvements
* For the 500m between Old Taupo Rd and Amohau St