Avoiding Speeding Fines in New Zealand
You're on your long-awaited holiday, enjoying the sights and everything New Zealand has to offer. The last thing you want is to discover that you have picked up a speeding infringement along the way, adding an unnecessary cost to your trip.
New Zealand takes speeding seriously, and there are several ways speeding can be detected on our roads. These include:
Spot-speed safety cameras: Cameras that measure your speed at a particular point on the road.
Mobile safety cameras: cameras mounted inside vehicles or trailers that can be moved between locations. These vehicles are not marked and the cameras are not signposted.
Average-speed safety cameras: Cameras positioned at two or more points along a section of road. They calculate your average speed between the cameras.
Police enforcement: Police officers also use radar and other speed-detection equipment and can enforce speed limits from roadside positions or from moving vehicles.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) currently has average-speed cameras operating at locations throughout New Zealand, including sites in Otago and Southland, so it is important not to assume that you only need to watch for a camera at a particular point in the road.
Watch for changing speed limits
Many speed restrictions are located where you are travelling from a faster open road into a smaller town or built-up area.
You may find that the speed limit changes quite quickly, for example, from 100 km/h to 80 km/h, then 60 km/h or 50 km/h as you approach a town. Keep an eye out for speed-limit signs and make sure you reduce your speed as soon as the new limit comes into effect.
Speed cameras and Police enforcement aren't limited to towns. You can encounter them on open roads too, so the safest approach is simply to stay within the posted speed limit throughout your journey.
School speed limits
You also need to pay particular attention around schools. New Zealand has variable speed limits outside many schools. Most have a 30 km/h variable speed limit, while some rural schools have a variable limit of 60 km/h or less.
Electronic or static signs show when the lower speed limit applies. The lower limit generally operates around school arrival and departure times on school days, and you must follow the speed shown on the sign when it is operating.
Don't rely solely on your navigation app to tell you the speed limit. NZTA specifically advises that navigation apps and maps may not always show the latest speed limit. The roadside sign is the current legal speed limit and must be followed.
On the Open Road
The maximum speed limit for most light vehicles on New Zealand's open roads is 100 km/h. There are also some specifically designated roads where the posted limit is 110 km/h.
However, not all campervans and motorhomes can legally travel at the posted speed limit.
If your campervan is large campervan (typically a 5 berth + sized vehicle) and has a GVM (gross vehicle mass) of more than 3,500 kg, it is classified as a heavy vehicle and has a maximum open-road speed of 90 km/h.
Open-Road Speed Limits
Campervan Type | Maximum legal speed |
Light campervan – GVM of 3,500 kg or less, not towing | 100 km/h or 110km/h (depending on zone) |
Heavy campervan or motorhome – GVM over 3,500 kg | 90 km/h |
The 90 km/h limit for heavy vehicles and vehicles towing trailers still applies on roads where the posted speed limit is 100 or 110 km/h.
Advisory Speed Signs
You will also see yellow and black advisory speed signs, particularly on roads with sharp bends, winding sections or limited visibility. For example, you might be travelling on a road with a legal speed limit of 90 km/h but see a yellow 60 km/h advisory speed sign before a bend.
The 60 km/h is an advisory speed rather than the legal speed limit, but it is there for a reason. It indicates a speed considered appropriate for negotiating that particular section of road safely.
This is particularly worth paying attention to when driving a campervan. Campervans are heavier and have a higher centre of gravity than many cars, and they can handle very differently from the vehicle you may normally drive at home.
Slow down before the corner, rather than braking heavily once you are already in it.
What happens if I get a speeding infringement?
If a speeding offence is detected by a safety camera in a hire vehicle, the initial infringement notice is generally issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, in this case, the rental company.
If the rental company was not responsible for the vehicle at the time of the offence, it can transfer liability to the person who was driving by completing what's known as a statutory declaration. A new infringement notice is then issued in the driver's name.
Your rental provider will normally contact you with the details of the infringement. Depending on the rental company's terms and conditions, they may also charge an administration fee and charge the relevant amount to the credit card used for the booking, or arrange payment with you directly.
If you are stopped by Police
If a Police officer stops you and issues an infringement notice at the roadside, the notice is issued to you as the driver. The notice will contain instructions explaining how and when to pay the infringement.
Don't ignore an infringement
If you receive a speeding infringement while travelling in New Zealand, don't simply ignore it because you are a visitor. Unpaid fines can eventually be referred to the Ministry of Justice. In serious cases involving unpaid fines, Police can stop people at the airport, and there are powers to prevent travel, confiscate a passport or arrest a person.
The easiest way to avoid the problem is to drive within the posted speed limit and, if you do receive an infringement, deal with it promptly. That way, you can get on with enjoying your New Zealand holiday without an unexpected problem waiting for you at the end of your trip.
What about parking fines?
Parking rules can vary between towns and cities in New Zealand, so it's important to check the signs before leaving your campervan parked.
In many areas, you may need to pay for parking or observe a time limit. Some streets also have restrictions on where larger vehicles, campervans or motorhomes can park. Don't assume that because you can physically fit into a parking space, you are allowed to park there.
Keep an eye out for signs showing:
Parking fees and payment requirements
Time limits
No-parking or no-stopping restrictions
Restrictions applying to larger vehicles or campervans
Restrictions on overnight stays or camping
Parking wardens and councils can issue infringement notices if you park illegally or exceed the permitted time. In some locations, your vehicle may also be towed if it is causing an obstruction or is parked where towing is authorised.
If you are driving a hire campervan, a parking infringement may initially be sent to the rental company. The rental company can then transfer liability to you, and may also charge an administration fee depending on your rental agreement.
Our advice: Take an extra minute to read the parking signs before you walk away from your campervan. A few minutes spent checking the rules is much cheaper than discovering an unexpected parking infringement later!
