She understood weather and driver error could contribute to an accident, \u201cbut the corner must have a place to play in this for it to be so repetitive\u201d.<\/p>\n
Scammell said the stretch of road leading up to the \u201ctight\u201d corner had a 100km\/h speed limit. There was a 75km\/h speed advisory at the corner.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shape of the corner, the speed going into the corner and the camber of the road, surely has to be a major impact into what\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two Bay of Plenty women are calling on New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to lower the speed limit of the corner of SH2 near Appleton Rd, Waiotahe near \u014cp\u014dtiki, after a crash on October 2. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Neighbour Melany King said she and her partner were watching TV when they heard an \u201calmighty smash\u201d.<\/p>\n
Her partner was one of the first on the scene to help, she said.<\/p>\n
King supported Scammell\u2019s calls to lower the corner\u2019s speed limit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another neighbour – who did not want to be named – also supported lowering the speed limit.<\/p>\n
Her main concern was for her children\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n
The woman said a car flipped upside-down and ended up \u201cin my driveway\u201d on September 29. Her son had just finished riding his motorbike there when it happened.<\/p>\n
Her \u201cheart dropped\u201d when she discovered the car.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if it was my little son underneath the car?\u201d<\/p>\n
NZTA responds <\/p>\n
An NZTA spokesperson said the agency extended its condolences to those injured in the crash and recognised the impact on neighbours and witnesses.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said safety improvements were under way and would be split into five sections.<\/p>\n
A map showed sections 1B and 1C were those closest to Appleton Rd.<\/p>\n
Safety improvements have been under way in Waiotahe since 2021 and the project has been split into five sections – section 1A, 1B, 1C, 2 and 3. Photo \/ NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi 08 October 2025<\/p>\n
NZTA completed road resealing on section 1B. It made \u201cfinal line markings\u201d and installed signage in December 2023 on section 1C.<\/p>\n
Works included shoulder widening and roadside barriers at \u201chigh-risk\u201d locations.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said 1.4km of wire rope barriers and 2.7km of W-section barriers (guardrails) were installed. Fresh chip seal was also laid.<\/p>\n
Other improvements nearby included widening the road and installing roadside barriers between the SH2\/Wainui Rd intersection and SH2\/\u014chiwa Beach Rd intersection, and a roundabout was being constructed at the \u201chigh-risk\u201d intersection of SH2 and Wainui Rd.<\/p>\n
The NZTA website said the stretch of road on SH2 between Wainui Road and \u014cp\u014dtiki was a \u201chigh-risk rural road\u201d where 14 death or serious injury crashes were recorded between 2018 and 2022.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said NZTA\u2019s approach to speed management had changed and its current focus was on implementing variable speed limits outside schools, as required by the Government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are currently reviewing the requests we have received for further speed reviews.\u201d<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said any other proposed speed limit changes needed to align with the Government\u2019s rule \u201cand can only be progressed once funding is available to plan, consult and set a changed speed limit\u201d.<\/p>\n
Funding was limited in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said it would consider speed management as part of its network planning \u201clonger-term\u201d.<\/p>\n
Future speed limit reviews would focus on locations required for roading projects and safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny community requests to review speed limits on state highways … will be added to our register for future consideration.\u201d<\/p>\n
Data from NZTA\u2019s crash analysis system showed seven crashes had occurred between 2022 and 2025 on SH2 near Appleton Rd. <\/p>\n
The 2025 data was incomplete, and crashes in September and October were not included.<\/p>\n
Of the seven recorded crashes, two resulted in serious injuries, one in minor injuries, and four were non-injury crashes.<\/p>\n
Contributing factors included poor observation, handling, or judgment, failing to give way or stop, incorrect lanes or position, vehicle factors, speed, and suspected alcohol and\/or drugs.<\/p>\n
Caveats included the system only recording crashes that were notified to the police, and a belief that non-fatal crashes were under-reported.<\/p>\n