Kerikeri Transport Choices

ViaStrada supported Far North District Council with a successful application for funding through Climate Emergency Response Funding Transport Choices in late 2022, (ViaStrada assisted earlier in the case for funding for FNDC, see here).

One of the projects was a package of interventions in Kerikeri focused on shared paths leading to the two largest schools on Hone Heke Road. This work aligns with ViaStrada’s separate Hone Heke / Cobham roundabout design development. 

ViaStrada staff organised and participated in the enthusiastically received Kerikeri Primary school workshop where children designed improvements that they said would make their journey to school safer. These ideas were then incorporated into concept plans shared with the community using web map tools and in a public drop-in session.

In addition to public input, the design work was informed by field surveys, aerial drone engineering surveys, and traffic counts organised by ViaStrada. This included training council staff on how to conduct queue length and delay studies. 

The resultant projects included a proposed roundabout with pedestrian crossings at Kerikeri Road and Hone Heke Road, widened paths and new crossings on Hone Heke Road, and a new shared path alongside the existing Wairoa Stream nature trail. Community concerns over access to businesses on Cobham Road were incorporated where possible into revised designs. Strong public support underpinned the final proposals. A change of government saw the cancellation of the fund and the projects will now go into the council’s general capital works programme for re-prioritisation. 

Other relevant links:

• CERF - Climate Emergency Response Funding application support
• Transport Choices in KeriKeri