Responses are expected to be mixed to the Government’s move to scrap blanket speed limit reductions introduced by the previous government - according to the newly appointed transport minister.

Simeon Brown, who was given the portfolio following the Government's coalition talks, confirmed this week that requirements for road controlling authorities - councils and Waka Kotahi NZTA - to put in place speed management plans were being removed.  

Work will now begin to account for economic impacts, such as travel times, and community views, alongside safety when setting speed limits. 

Brown told the Mike Hosking Breakfast he will then be able to stop the one-size-fits-all approach.  

He said the previous government required road controlling authorities to put in place speed management plans and to start public consultation by March 29 next year.  

"Effectively, those meant 30 kilometre-an-hour speed limits on many of our urban roads in New Zealand, and NZTA was also working towards 80km limits on many of our state highways." 

Brown said the wrote to every council in the country to inform them of the Government's first transport initiative.  

"Some councils will be very grateful for this," said Brown.  

"Councils and mayors were telling me ‘please get rid of this rule, we really don't want it’, others were a little more excited." 

However, the news won't necessarily be received well by all councils.  

"For example, in Wellington City Council they wanted to go to 30km/h in every single street in the city, so some will be a bit disappointed, but we need to get the balance right here between the impact on travel times and safety." 

Brown said former transport minister Michael Wood pushed for 30km/h limits across numerous suburban streets in major cities such as Auckland.  

"Michael Wood thought we should all crawl around our city at 30km/h - some would think we should put someone out front with a red flag. We actually think people need to get around quickly and safely and get the balance right between the impact on travel times and economic impact and also safety," said Brown.  

"So the new rule will have far more consultative processes and a far better balance between those two things." 

Transporting NZ interim chief executive, Dom Kalasih, told Tim Dower on Newstalk ZB yesterday that some limits were simply too low - losing credibility among drivers.  

Kalasih said the main issue with the blanket reductions was that it wasn't risk-based.