“We know that money’s tight with the Government at the moment and NZTA, but at some point lives have got to be [worth] more than money. Whilst we know that roads and infrastructure help keep New Zealand going, so does actually having people alive to do those jobs.”
He’s backing a petition created by nurse and lecturer Fiona Lagae, who called on the Government to improve safety at the corner, suggesting options ranging from a remodelled layout to a roundabout.
Nurse Fiona Lagae with Labour MPs Glen Bennett (left) and Tangi Utikere.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop responded, saying “there is currently no funding allocated for further improvements”.
Lagae used NZTA statistics as the basis for her 710-signature petition, which paint a worsening picture.
Three crashes occurred at the intersection in 2017, including one death, one serious injury and one minor injury.
By 2024, the number grew to five, with one death, seven serious injuries and three minor injuries.
Those stats followed NZTA installing an intersection speed zone sign in 2018, with Bishop describing them as “targeted and effective safety intervention[s]”.
“That might be the case from his perspective, but we can see in the data that serious crashes with serious injuries have gone up,” Legae said.
It was a sentiment shared by Labour MP and transport spokesman Tangi Utikere, who read out the petition in Parliament.
“It’s hard to believe road safety is a priority for this Government. Their priorities are all wrong; the minister needs to listen to the community,” he told Local Democracy Reporting.
“They have ignored community calls for lower speed limits and choose to have billions of dollars in a budget hole for roads that won’t be built, rather than make improvements to dangerous parts of the road network.“
Coromandel MP and ACC Minister Scott Simpson says the recent $85 million investment in Coromandel roads from the Government will target up to 11 high-risk sites. Photo / Mark Mitchell
In response, NZTA said that, since 2024, there were three recorded crashes: one serious, one minor and one non-injury. The specific number of injuries was not disclosed.
It added that limited funding in the current National Land Transport Programme was the reason behind the unavailability of funding for the intersection, but it would “consider any future projects as part of the 2027-30 NLTP”.
“With the majority of the crashes involving vehicles turning right from Hauraki Rd onto State Highway 25, we urge drivers to look both ways twice and be extra vigilant when turning.”
Lagae questioned Coromandel MP and ACC Minister Scott Simpson about the intersection, claiming he had an “element of interest to actually reduce the cost of any injury to the country, more specifically to this corner”.
When approached by Local Democracy Reporting, Simpson said he was aware of residents raising the issue and acknowledged “it’s one of several important roading improvements needed”.
“Road safety in the Coromandel is hugely important to me … as we continue to invest in SH25, the Orongo Corner is an area I’d like improved.”
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.