Exit distance sign on the Southern Mwy (SH1) at Otara showing both Urban Route and State Highway shields. Image © Dean Sherry

You've arrived at the road photos and information section that covers New Zealand.

In New Zealand, the roads are classified into different categories, and are also numbered for maintenance purposes and also navigation purposes.

Despite New Zealand not divided into states, the main routes across the country are called State Highways. The term 'state highway' differentiates between local roads, built and maintained by local authorities, and the national state highway network. 'State', in the sense used here, is an older term meaning 'government'. The New Zealand Transport Agency (known as Waka Kotahi in the Māori language) manages national road network. ¹

In the early days all roads were managed by local road boards. Initially they were set up by the Provinces. From the 20th century, the country's road network has been managed and funded by several executive branch government departments over the years, which have been formed, reorganised, and merged. These include:

Main Highways Board (Commenced operations on the 1st of April 1924). The board's purpose was to facilitate the overall planning and control of roads on a national basis, with particular reference to arterial routes, which were becoming necessary. The Board was serviced by the Public Works Department, and was the result of the introduction of the Main Highways Act 1922. ²

New Zealand Transport Department was established on 12 February 1929.

National Roads Board (Commenced operations in 1954). The board was created to respond to post World War II needs. The government of the day acknowledged the need for a new era of roading administration. Deferred maintenance and urgently needed bridge renewals were exacerbated by a lack of manpower, plant and materials at a time when traffic volumes were increasing and rural areas were being developed. ² The board was established under the National Roads Act 1953. ³

Ministry of Transport (Commenced operations 1968, amalgamating Land, Marine and Civil Aviation as well as Crash Fire and Meteorology). ³ On the 1st of April 1988, the Ministry of Works and Development was corporatised and the National Roads Board's operational arm, Roading Division, was incorporated into the Ministry of Transport). ²

Transit New Zealand (Ararau Aotearoa) (Commenced operations on the 1st of October 1989). Transit New Zealand was created by the Transit New Zealand Act 1989, which came into effect on 1 October 1989. It reported to an independent authority which operated much like a company board. Appointed by the Government, the Board of Transit New Zealand directed both overall policy and funding allocation. The Transit New Zealand Act repealed the National Roads Act 1953 and the Transit New Zealand Authority succeeded the National Roads Board as the body controlling State highways. It formed as a Crown entity to manage the state highway network and the Land Transport Fund. ³

The Land Transport Safety Authority was established in 1993 to promote safety in land transport. ³

Transfund (previously known as the Land Transport Fund) became a new organisation in 1997 by splitting away from Transit New Zealand to manage National Roads Fund. ³

The Land Transport New Zealand was created in 2004 under the Land Transport Amendment Act 2004, merging the functions of the Land Transport Safety Authority and Transfund New Zealand. ³

The NZ Transport Agency was established in 2008, merging Land Transport New Zealand and Transit New Zealand. ³

Over 5.3 million people live in New Zealand ⁴ and the country is made up of two main islands, the north and south islands, and the road network is connected via ferry between the islands, which links the 2 sections of State Highway 1, the main route through the country.

The state highway network has over 200 kilometres of motorway, with most in Auckland. Motorways carry 10% of New Zealand's traffic. The state highway network has around 11 000 kilometres of road, with more than 6000 km in the North Island and 4900 km in the South Island. State Highway 1 in central Auckland is the busiest road in New Zealand, carrying more than 200 000 vehicles a day. The first section of motorway ran for three miles (4.8 km) between Takapu Road and Johnsonville in Wellington. It opened in December 1950 as part of the main approach to Wellington city. ⁵

Roads in New Zealand are divided into six types and each type has a series of functions or thresholds required to meet a particular criteria, these include linking places, connectivity, freight (inland ports / ports), airport passenger numbers, tourism and hospitals): ⁶

National: These are roads that make the largest contribution to the social and economic wellbeing of New Zealand by connecting major population centres, major ports or international airports and have high volumes of heavy commercial vehicles or general traffic. They must meet the thresholds for 3 criteria, including at least one of the following movement criteria (Typical Daily Traffic, Heavy Commercial Vehicles or Buses, Urban Peak) and at least one of the economic and social criteria (i.e. 3 in total). To be included in the high volume subset a road must meet one of the high volume criteria for typical daily traffic or Heavy Commercial Vehicles.

Regional: These roads make a major contribution to the social and economic wellbeing of a region and connect to regionally significant places, industries, ports or airports. They are also major connectors between regions and in urban areas may have substantial passenger transport movements. As well as meeting at least one of the following movement criteria (Typical Daily Traffic, Heavy Commercial Vehicles or Buses, Urban Peak) these roads need to meet at least one of the economic and social criteria (i.e. 2 in total).

Arterial: These roads make a significant contribution to social and economic wellbeing, link regionally significant places, industries, ports or airports and may be the only route available to some places within the region (i.e. they may perform a significant lifeline function). In urban areas they may have significant passenger transport movements and numbers of cyclists and pedestrians using the road. As well as meeting at least one of the following movement criteria (Typical Daily Traffic, Heavy Commercial Vehicles or Buses Urban Peak) they also need to meet at least 1 other criteria (i.e. 2 in total). The other criteria should then be considered to provide a local on-site verification, and in some instances by considering these this may result in a road moving up or down a category to reflect the function of the road.

Primary Collector: These are locally important roads that provide a primary distributor / collector function, linking significant local economic areas or areas of population. They may be the only route available to some places within the region and in urban areas they may have moderate passenger transport movements and numbers of cyclists and pedestrians using the road. These roads need to meet at least one of the movement criteria (Typical Daily Traffic, Heavy Commercial Vehicles or Buses Urban Peak - (i.e. 1 in total). The other criteria are then be considered to provide a local on-site verification, and in some instance by considering these criteria, this may result in a road moving up or down a category to reflect the function of the road.

Secondary Collector: These are roads that provide a secondary distributor / collector function, linking local areas of population and economic sites and may be the only route available to some places within this local area. These roads need to meet at least one of the movement criteria (Typical Daily Traffic or Heavy Commercial Vehicles - i.e. 1 in total). The other criteria are then be considered to provide a local on-site verification, and in some instance by considering these criteria, this may result in a road moving up or down a category to reflect the function of the road.

Access: These are all other roads. Low volume roads within this category will fall into the low volume subset.

Route Numbering is designed to aid motorists navigate, and NZ uses a hierarchical system (using numbers on shields) for route marking. The state highway numbering system in its current form was implemented in 1960. National state highways received priority funding and were signposted with red shield; while provincial state highways were signposted with blue shields. Following restructuring in the early 1990s, all state highways are now signposted with red shields. ¹

State Highways: High traffic volume roads; highways, freeways, motorways and main roads. These are managed by NZTA.

Urban Routes: These are major connector roads between state highways in selected cities (such as Auckland, Hamilton and New Plymouth). These routes managed by local territorial authorities. Urban routes are often former State Highways.

Tourist Drives: Used in most indicate routes that have tourist interest sites along them. These are managed by NZTA.

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