IR-01-25-23670
1 July 2025
Margaret Howley
[FYI request #31418 email]
Dear Margaret
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request received 27 June 2025 in
which you requested:
I am writing to ask if the NZ Police have an official policy on City Councils use of
speed platforms or humps as traffic calming measures. Whether you approve of
these traffic calming measures or find them a hindrance to timely arrival at the
scene of an incident. Do the other Emergency Services hold your view. When
speaking with council, mainly council ors, about road safety improvement it is
often mentioned that the Emergency services do not support their use. I ask
simply as I seek fact as a basis to work with council on community issues, also if
you do not support the use of these then the community would in al probably
seek other ways to make the roading in our area for the elderly and children.
There is no specific policy relating to the use of speed humps, raised platforms, or similar
traffic calming infrastructure implemented by local councils or agencies. Decisions
regarding the instal ation and design of such infrastructure are typical y the responsibility
of territorial authorities (i.e. local or city councils), often made in consultation with roading
engineers and transport authorities. While Police may be consulted on traffic-related
safety matters, we do not have a formal policy or directive regarding the use or suitability
of speed calming devices.
In relation to your broader question regarding the views of Police or other emergency
services on these measures, there is a difference between questions which can be
answered by providing information already known to and held by an agency (official
information) and questions which require an agency to form an opinion or provide an
explanation and so create new information to answer the request (not official information).
An agency is not obliged to form an opinion or create information to answer an official
information request, therefore this part of your request is refused as it does not constitute
a request for official information. Furthermore, we do not hold records of the views of
other emergency services in this regard.
I trust this information is satisfactory in answering your request. If you are not satisfied
with the way I have responded to your request, you have the right to seek an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint
is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Police National Headquarters 180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Telephone: 04 474 9499. Fax: 04 498 7400. www.police.govt.nz
I trust this information is satisfactory in answering your request. If you are not satisfied with the way I have
responded to your request, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Superintendent Stephen Greal y
Director: Road Policing
New Zealand Police
