Confirmation direction sign on SH3 at Rukuiha. Image © Krysten Pratt

Welcome to the New Zealand road sign photo gallery. This section features photos of standard signs that appear in the Traffic Control Devices manual (TCD manual) used by the New Zealand Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) and various local governments around New Zealand.

There are several categories of road signs in New Zealand: ¹

Regulatory signs:

Regulatory signs are used to regulate the movement of traffic by indicating when or where a legal requirement applies, failure to comply with which constitutes an offence. For example, speed limits, requirement, restriction or prohibition on traffic.

stop signs (octagonal).

give way and roundabout give way signs (triangular).

speed restriction signs (symbol enclosed in a red circle).

no right or left turn signs (red slash to indicate the prohibition of a movement).

Permanent warning signs:

advisory speed signs (to safely negotiate bends).

advance warning of traffic control devices (such as traffic lights).

road conditions (for example, slippery when wet).

Temporary warning signs:

Temporary warning signs are used to control, warn and guide road users safely through, around or past work sites on roads and footpaths and to warn and advise of other temporary hazardous conditions which could endanger road users.

Parking signs:

Parking signs are used to restrict the amount of time a vehicle may be parked at a location, or used to restrict parking to certain vehicle types. They are a form of regulatory sign and disobeying a parking sign constitutes an offence and attracts an infringement penalty.

General advisory signs:

General advisory signs are used to indicate the start and end of an expressway or toll road conditions, advise of special lanes such as transit lanes etc, distance to special lanes, upcoming restrictions, some types of road classification and so on.

Motorist service signs:

Usually coloured white on a blue background, these signs indicate information regarding rest areas, EV charging stations, toilets, parking areas, and so on, and use pictograms used in the Symbols category.

Tourist signs:

Usually coloured white on a brown background, these signs indicate information regarding points of interest, tourist attractions, lookouts, wineries, galleries and more, and use pictograms used in the Symbols category.

Guide signs:

name of the major crossroads being approached.

cycleway destinations or directions.

routes and their number consisting of either red shield with white text, white shield with black text or pictogram denoting a themed touring route.

This section is compiled, from information provided by several official and unofficial sources, as well as additional content by the site author and other contributors.

To view each gallery, click or tap on a category below.