Tamahere traffic chicanes dispute

The story so far

Residents of Birchwood Lane in Tamahere protested after the Waikato District Council suddenly installed traffic calming measures, including four chicanes on the 50kph road that create one-lane sections.^{21 May 2025} Residents said the layout was a crash hazard in fog or sun strike, and the council apologised for installing the chicanes without community consultation.^{4 Jun 2025} Some residents welcomed the trial, while police reported that some motorists had started speeding or using the wrong lane to get around the chicanes.^{4 Jun 2025} Vandals have since removed a third chicane from Birchwood Lane, and residents had earlier said the installations were dangerous.^{10 Jun 2025}

Latest

A third chicane on Birchwood Lane was removed by vandals, who did so anonymously.^{10 Jun 2025}

Key moments

1. 21 May 2025Residents protest sudden installation of four chicanes on Birchwood Lane's 50kph road.
2. 4 Jun 2025Council apologises for installing chicanes without community consultation.
3. 4 Jun 2025Police report motorists speeding or using wrong lane to bypass chicanes.
4. 10 Jun 2025Vandals anonymously remove a third traffic chicane from Birchwood Lane.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.