Who decides what roads are state highways and what are local roads?
Transit New Zealand is the Crown Entity that can classify a road as a state highway or a special purpose road. All other roads are local roads controlled by territorial authorities. Transit assesses proposals for state highways and special purpose roads against specific criteria. Only the Transit New Zealand Authority can declare or revoke the status of a road as a state highway or special purpose road. State Highways: A state highway should form part of an integrated national network of roads that: 1 (a) are strategic inter-district routes connecting locations of national economic significance such as: • significant centres of population • major ports and airports • major industrial, forestry and agricultural areas • major tourist areas with a minimum number of parallel or alternative routes; AND (b) provide: • the most convenient, efficient and safe route for through traffic • a minimum restraint on traffic capacity and legal weight and dimensional constraints for heavy commercial ve
