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  • / Permanent warning signs in New Zealand

Permanent warning signs in New Zealand

Permanent warning signs are mostly yellow with a black border and black writing with a few exceptions.

New_Zealand_PW_Speed_Camera_Area.svg Speed cameras may be present
120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Speed_Limit_Ahead_(90_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Speed_Limit_Ahead_(80_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Speed_Limit_Ahead_(70_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Speed_Limit_Ahead_(60_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Speed_Limit_Ahead_(50_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Speed_Limit_Ahead_(40_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Speed_Limit_Ahead_(30_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Speed_Limit_Ahead_(20_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Speed_Limit_Ahead_(10_kmh).svg Warns of a speed limit coming up ahead, for example, if you are on a motorway where the limit is 100kph you could see the 50kph sign on the off-ramp as you approach an urban area
New_Zealand_PW-3.svg Traffic lights ahead
120px-New_Zealand_PW-4_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-4_(left).svg Traffic is merging from a side road, as indicated
120px-New_Zealand_PW-2.svg Give way ahead
120px-New_Zealand_PW-1.svg Stop sign ahead
120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Merging_Traffic_Left_and_Right.svg Traffic is merging from both sides
120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_200m_Ahead.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_150m_Ahead.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_100m_Ahead.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_50m_Ahead.svg Direction signs appended to warning signs such as the stop, give way or speed limit signs above
New_Zealand_PW-8.svg Roundabout ahead
120px-New_Zealand_PW-12_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-11_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-11_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-10_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-10_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-9.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-9.1_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-9.1_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-12_(left).svg The priority road is shown by the thicker arrow, and an adjoining road is shown.
120px-New_Zealand_PW-11.1_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-11.1_(left).svg Uncontrolled intersection on the left or right, as indicated
120px-New_Zealand_PW-10.1.svg Uncontrolled T-intersection
120px-New_Zealand_PW-5.svg Road diverges
120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Lane_Gain_(on_right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Lane_Gain_(on_left).svg Traffic joins from the left or right in a separate lane
120px-New_Zealand_PW-13.1_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-13.1_(left).svg120px-New_Zealand_PW-13b_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-13b_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-13a_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-13a_(left).svg Railway crossing on a side road, as indicated
120px-New_Zealand_PW-13.3_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-13.3_(left).svg Railway crossing on an uncontrolled T-intersection
120px-New_Zealand_PW-13.2_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-13.2_(left).svg Railway crossing on a controlled T-intersection
New_Zealand_PW-14b.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-14.svg Railway crossing
120px-New_Zealand_PW-21_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-21_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-20_(right).svg120px-New_Zealand_PW-20_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-19_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-19_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-18_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-18_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-17_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-17_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-16_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-16_(left).svg Signs indicating the direction of the road ahead and the severity of the bends
120px-New_Zealand_PW-25_(95_kmh).svg120px-New_Zealand_PW-25_(85_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-25_(75_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-25_(65_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-25_(55_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-25_(45_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-25_(35_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-25_(25_kmh).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-25_(15_kmh).svg Recommended speeds for a corner indicated, in kph. Note that they end in 5 to avoid confusion with speed limits which always end in 0
120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(25_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(20_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(15_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(10_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(9_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(8_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(7_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(6_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(5_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(4_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(3_km).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-24_(2_km).svg Distance indicators for a sign which will appear above it, for example winding road or falling rocks
120px-New_Zealand_PW-23_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-23_(left).svg Signs indicating a series of curves ahead. The sign shows which way the first curve turns. Often a distance indicator such as ‘Next 2km’ may appear underneath a sign like this
120px-New_Zealand_PW-22_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-22_(left).svg Reverse curve with decreasing radius (i.e. the curve tightens)
120px-New_Zealand_PW-28.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Use_Low_Gear.svg This sign usually indicates a gradient and lets you know you should change down a gear either to help with engine braking, or to give more torque for maintaining speed uphill
120px-New_Zealand_PW-27.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-27.1.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Steep_Up_Grade.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Steep_Down_Grade.svg Signs showing a gradient and its direction. The gradient may be shown if it is steep
120px-New_Zealand_PW-26.svg Concealed exits may mean that slow traffic is turning into or out of a hidden driveway or side road.
60px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Truck_Advisory_Speed_(right).svg 60px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Truck_Advisory_Speed_(left).svg Trucks need to be careful of tipping over. This may be relevant if the corner is adverse camber, for example
New_Zealand_Sign_Assembly_-_Road_Slippery_When_Wet.svg New_Zealand_Sign_Assembly_-_Road_Slippery_When_Frosty.svg New_Zealand_Sign_Assembly_-_Road_Slippery_Gravel_Surface.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-41.svg Indicates the road may be slippery and a specific reason, if relevant
120px-New_Zealand_PW-40.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-39.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-38.svg Indicates uneven road surface, bump or dip
120px-New_Zealand_PW-37.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-37.2.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-37.1.svg Animals may be present on the roads
120px-New_Zealand_Vehicle_Mounted_Sign_-_School_Bus.svgNew_Zealand_Sign_Assembly_-_School_Bus_Turn_Area.svg New_Zealand_Sign_Assembly_-_School_Bus_Route.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-34.svg School bus warning signs. Watch for buses stopping to let children off or pick them up, and remember there is a 20kph speed limit when passing a stationary school bus
120px-New_Zealand_PW-31.svg New_Zealand_PW-32.1.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-32.svg Signs warning that children may be on the road
New_Zealand_PW-35.svg Cyclists may be around
New_Zealand_Sign_Assembly_-_PW-44_with_PW-44.1.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-44.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-43_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-43_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-43.1.svg The road narrows, as indicated
120px-New_Zealand_PW-50.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-49.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-50.1.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-51.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-51.1.svg Signs indicating specific vehicles may be on the road (such as trucks, fire engines [because of a nearby fire station] or forklift trucks and work vehicles [because of a nearby industrial area]), or overhead and flying low (such as aeroplanes or helicopters)
120px-New_Zealand_PW-48.svg Strong cross winds may occur. Take care when passing larger stationary objects such as buildings as when you clear the object the wind gust may significantly affect your vehicle. This also applies if you are passing longer large vehicles such as articulated trucks
120px-New_Zealand_PW-47.svg Overhead electric cables
120px-New_Zealand_PW-46.svg Maximum height marker
120px-New_Zealand_PW-45.svg Maximum overhead clearance ahead
120px-New_Zealand_PW-42_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-42_(left).svg Danger of falling rocks, with the side indicated on the sign
New_Zealand_Sign_Assembly_-_PW-53_with_PW-56.svg New_Zealand_Sign_Assembly_-_PW-53_with_PW-55.svg New_Zealand_Sign_Assembly_-_PW-53_with_PW-54.svg Warning signs with the danger indicated
120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Gravel_Surface.svg Loose road surface. Stones may flick up and crack a windscreen
120px-New_Zealand_PW-57_(left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-57_(right).svg Uncontrolled railway crossing ahead
120px-New_Zealand_PW-53.svg General warning sign
120px-New_Zealand_PW-52.svg Tunnel ahead. This may also be accompanied by a maximum clearance sign
120px-New_Zealand_PW-64_(Prepare_To_Stop).svg Prepare to stop ahead
120px-New_Zealand_PW-64_(Queued_Vehicles).svg120px-New_Zealand_PW-64_(Hidden_Queue).svg Hidden queue may be present – pay particular attention to these on holiday weekends when extra traffic can lengthen queues, often at one-way bridges and intersections from side roads onto main routes
120px-New_Zealand_PW-63_(right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-63_(left).svg Light rail crossing
120px-New_Zealand_PW-60.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-60.2.svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-60.1.svg Railway crossing ahead, showing the angle of the crossing, as indicated
120px-New_Zealand_PW-59.svg Look both ways for trains before crossing
120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Cyclists_Take_Care_on_Rail_Tracks_(fluorescent).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Permanent_Warning_-_Cyclists_Take_Care_on_Rail_Tracks.svg Warning to cyclists to take care crossing rail tracks
120px-New_Zealand_Vehicle_Mounted_Sign_-_Wide_Load_Follows.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Vehicle_Mounted_Sign_-_Wide_Load_Ahead.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Vehicle_Mounted_Sign_-_Pilot_Vehicle.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Vehicle_Mounted_Sign_-_Long_Load_Follows.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Vehicle_Mounted_Sign_-_Long_Load_Ahead.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Vehicle_Mounted_Sign_-_House_Follows.svg 120px-New_Zealand_Vehicle_Mounted_Sign_-_House_Ahead.svg General vehicle-mounted warning signs indicating oversized vehicles
120px-New_Zealand_PW-66_(4_chevrons_right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-66_(4_chevrons_left).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-66_(2_chevrons_right).svg 120px-New_Zealand_PW-66_(2_chevrons_left).svg 90px-New_Zealand_PW-67_(right).svg 90px-New_Zealand_PW-67_(left).svg Chevrons indicating road direction, and suggested speed if necessary
120px-New_Zealand_Figure_5.12_(4_chevrons).svg 120px-New_Zealand_Figure_5.12_(2_chevrons).svg End of road markers – used at T-intersections
120px-New_Zealand_Figure_5.13.svg Roundabout hazard marker
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By Darren Cottingham

Darren has written over 3000 articles about driving and vehicles, plus almost 500 vehicle reviews and numerous driving courses. Connect with him on LinkedIn by clicking the name above

‹ General and advisory signs in New Zealand
Temporary warning signs in New Zealand ›
Tagged with: road signs, warning | Posted in Car, Heavy Vehicle, Motorbike, Road Code, Road Signs
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