44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
3 July 2026
Emilia Sharp
[FYI request #34894 email]
REF: OIA-22511
Dear Emilia
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email
of 10 June 2026 requesting information under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act).
You asked about situations where a red disc is displayed while a red arrow may be unlit. By way of
context, this signal behaviour is permitted under the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices
2004 (Traffic Control Devices Rule). The Traffic Control Devices Rule sets out the legal requirements
for traffic signal displays but does not prescribe every possible signal operation between a combined
signals display. It requires that at least one signal is il uminated in a display, and that signal meanings
are clear and enforceable.
Importantly, when a steady red disc is displayed it applies to al traffic facing the signal. Whether a red
arrow is also displayed or briefly unlit does not change the meaning of the signal. The instruction to
drivers remains to stop and not enter the intersection.
I have responded to each part of your request below
:
1. What is the correct course of action for a driver in a control ed left turning lane in this
scenario?
When a steady red disc is displayed, a driver must not enter the controlled area (the intersection). This
requirement is set out in the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 (Road User Rule) which specifies
the drivers’ responsibilities in a scenario of steady red discs, steady red arrows, or both. The relevant
clauses are copied below:
3.2 Traffic signals in form of disc
(5) While a steady red signal in the form of a disc is displayed or 2 alternately flashing red signals in
the form of a disc are displayed,—
(a) a driver of a vehicle facing the signal or signals must not enter the controlled area, but a cyclist
may enter ahead of a marked vehicle limit line and stop behind a marked cycle limit line:
3.3 Traffic signals in form of arrow
(3) While a red signal in the form of an arrow is displayed,—
(a) a driver facing the signal must not enter the control ed area to proceed in the direction indicated by
the signal:
(4) However, when a signal in the form of an arrow is displayed simultaneously with any other signal,
in a single or a multi-column traffic signal display,—
(a) the signal in the form of an arrow applies to drivers proceeding or about to proceed in the direction
indicated by that signal; and
(b) no other signal or signals apply to that vehicular traffic.
2. Why was this implementation chosen over explicitly making the left arrow red before
turning it green again instead of having it unlit briefly? What safety and psychological
considerations/assessments have been made regarding this? Is this implementation the
result of a technological limitation, a standard operating procedure, or something else?
Signal personality programming (designing the computer program that controls signal phasing at an
intersection) is a specialised role that is tailored to the specific characteristics and operational
requirements of each intersection. Signal phasing may therefore vary between intersections, provided
it complies with the requirements of the Road User Rule and the Traffic Control Devices Rule. These
Rules do not prescribe every aspect of signal operation and allow flexibility for signal programmers to
determine the most appropriate phasing for a particular intersection.
As signal phasing is designed on an intersection-by-intersection basis, NZ Transport Agency Waka
Kotahi (NZTA) is unable to provide a single reason for implementation or provide specific safety or
psychological assessments undertaken for this particular signal operation. The reasons for a particular
signal phasing would depend on the design and operational requirements of the specific intersection
concerned.
4. Is or was this situation documented on your website? If so, where? When was this first
and/or last present?
The responsibilities of drivers at traffic signals, including situations where a red disc is displayed with a
red arrow, or where the red arrow is unlit are explained on our website here:
•
www.nzta.govt.nz/roadcode/code-for-cycling/intersections/intersections-with-traffic-lights-
2#arrow
•
www.nzta.govt.nz/roadcode/motorcycle-code/about-riding/giving-way/the-give-way-rules
The website reflects the current content of the Road Code. NZTA does not hold information identifying
when this content was first published on the website. As such this information is refused under section
18(g) of the Act because the information requested is not held by NZTA and there are no grounds for
believing that the information is either held by or is more closely connected with the functions of
another department, Minister of the Crown, organisation or local authority.
5. Is or was this situation documented in the road code book? If so, where? When was this
first and/or last present?
Yes. The Road Code explains how drivers must respond to red disc and arrow signals. This
information is currently available online:
•
www.nzta.govt.nz/driving-skills/learn-to-drive/roadcode/new-zealand-cycling-
code/intersections/intersections-with-traffic-lights-2.
2
NZTA does not hold records confirming when this information was first included in the Road Code. I
am therefore required to refuse this part of your request under section 18(g) of the Act. However,
based on National Library of New Zealand records, the first edition of The Official New Zealand Road
Code published after the Traffic Control Devices Rule came into force appears to have been published
in 2007. It is therefore likely that information relating to these signal displays was included in the Road
Code by at least that edition however, NZTA cannot confirm a specific publication date.
6. Is or was this situation documented in law? If so, where? When was this first and/or last
present?
The operation of traffic signals, including the relationship between red disc and arrow signals, is
governed by the Traffic Control Devices Rule. The relevant clauses and amendments are copied
below:
6.4 Steady vehicle displays in the form of a continuous display
6.4(1) The configuration and combination of a steady vehicle display must comply with one of the
displays in Schedule 3.
Operation of steady vehicle displays
6.4(4) In a single or multi-column steady vehicle display, other than for a roundabout signal or ramp
signal display, at least one of the signals must be lit.
6.4(2) A steady vehicle display of a green, yellow or red disc signal applies to al traffic facing those
signals, but may be overridden:
(a) for a red disc display, by:
(i) a green or yel ow arrow signal for traffic intending to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow;
(i ) a white B signal for buses, a white T signal for light rail vehicles or a green cycle signal for cycles;
(i i) a yellow B signal for buses, a yellow T signal for light-rail vehicles or a yellow cycle signal for
cycles;
(b) for a yellow disc display, by:
(i) a red or green arrow signal for traffic intending to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow;
(i ) a red B signal for buses, a red T signal for light-rail vehicles or a red cycle signal for cycles;
(c) for a green disc display, by:
(i) a red or yellow arrow signal for traffic intending to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow;
(i ) a red B signal for buses, a red T signal for light-rail vehicles or a red cycle signal for
cycles.
6.4(2A) A steady vehicle display of a red arrow applies to al traffic on the roadway intending to travel
in the direction indicated by the arrow and is not overridden by a white or yel ow B signal for buses, a
white or yellow T signal for light-rail vehicles or a green or yellow cycle signal controlling cyclists on a
roadway.
Clause 6.4(1): amended, on 1 April 2011, by clause 2.10(1) of Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control
Devices Amendment 2010
Clause 6.4(2A): inserted, on 1 November 2014, by clause 2.4(1) of Land Transport Rule: Traffic
Control Devices Amendment 2014.
Clause 6.4(2A): replaced, on 3 November 2025, by clause 9.4(1) of Land Transport Rule: Regulatory
Systems Amendment 2025
3
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to refuse
this request. The contact details for the Ombudsman can be located at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
In line with NZTA policy, this response wil soon be published on our website, with personal
information removed.
If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact the Ministerial Services team by email
to [NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Jackie Smith
Manager, Ministerial Services
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