Pop the Hood: Are Speed Limit Reversals Taking Us in the Wrong Direction?
This is a guest post by Vinetta Plummer, Policy and Government Lead for Healthy Families Waitākere, West Auckland mum of two, community advocate, and school board member.
Written for Road Safety Week 2025, the post reflects on the government’s reversal of safer speed limits through a local, lived lens and explores how these changes undermine years of community-informed planning, raise serious equity concerns, and signal a broader pattern of rolling back evidence-based policy in favour of short-term economics.…
11 Comments Holding out for a Road Safety Hero
This is a guest post by Christina Robertson, who is a member of the Albert-Eden Local Board. The views presented here are her own.
The header image shows an example of a short, dead-end street in the Albert-Eden area that is set to return to 50km/h as a result of AT’s unusually broad reading of the Speed Rule.…
Why it takes a city to save a village, and vice versa
This guest post by Dr Stuart Donovan looks at how strengthening the urban core can turn liabilities into assets. The header image of Rangiwhakaoma is by the author. I recently travelled to the remarkably picturesque coastal settlement known as Rangiwhakaoma (Castlepoint), which translates loosely to “where the sky runs”.…
On politics, professional ethics, and premature death on our roads
Today’s guest post is an open letter by Dr Bridget Doran, a transportation engineer, researcher, and human factors psychologist, on the question of politics and professional ethics in the context of the new Speed Rule.
It’s a timely read for our local audience.…
Fares fair in the Sunshine State?
This is a guest post by Darren Davis. It originally appeared on his excellent blog, Adventures in Transitland, which we encourage you to check out. It is shared by kind permission. Context
Queensland launched 50 cent flat fares across all urban bus networks in the state in August 2024 (including free transfers), initially as a cost of living relief measure implemented in the lead-up to the October 26 2024 state election.…
For a safer Symonds Street
This is a guest post by Lewis Creed, managing editor of the University of Auckland student publication Craccum, which is currently running a campaign for a safer Symonds Street in the wake of a horrific recent crash.
The post has two parts: 1) Craccum’s original call for safety (6 April) which launched a related petition, and
2) the recent update (14 April) on the overwhelming support for the petition.…
Wherefore now with Kiwirail
This is a guest post by Darren Davis. It originally appeared on his excellent blog, Adventures in Transitland, which we encourage you to check out. It is shared by kind permission. Rail Network Investment Plan quietly dropped
While much media attention focused on the 31st March 2025 announcement that the replacement Cook Strait ferries will still be rail-enabled, the 2024-2027 Rail Network Investment Programme quietly, and without fanfare, appeared on the KiwiRail website.…
Should Auckland demolish Spaghetti Junction?
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. In this article, I make a not-entirely-serious case for ripping out Spaghetti Junction in Auckland, replacing it with a motorway tunnel, and redeveloping new city streets and neighbourhoods above it instead.…
SOS – Save our streets!
This is a Guest Post by Transport Planner Bevan Woodward from the charitable trust Movement, which has lodged an application for a judicial review of the Governments Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 Auckland is at grave risk of having its safer speed limits on approx.…
Lunar New Year and the Future of Placemaking
This is a guest post by placemaker Paris Kirby.
Featured Image: Neon Lucky Cat on Darby Street, city centre. Created and built by Aan Chu and Angus Muir Design (Photo credit: Bryan Lowe) Disclaimer: I am a Senior Placemaking and Activation Specialist at Auckland Council; however, the views expressed in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Auckland Council.…
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