﻿﻿The New Zealand Transport Agency has said its proposal to drop speed limits on the highway between Blenheim and Nelson is "not a vote", as a petition against the move tops 17,000 signatures.

Stephanie Drewery, of Nelson, handed the petition she started to Nelson MP, National's Nick Smith on Monday, as the two were pulled over on the side of State Highway 6, near the Whangamoa Saddle.

Smith said to get thousands of signatures in less than a month showed "the depth of feeling" against the NZTA proposal.

RAHUL BHATTARAI/STUFF Stephanie Drewery hands her petition to National transport spokesperson Chris Bishop, middle, and Nelson MP Nick Smith by the side of SH6.

​NZTA announced last month it wanted to reduce the 100kmh sections of SH6, between Blenheim and Nelson, to 80kmh.

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NZTA director of regional relationships Jim Harland said last month the changes would increase the 110km journey between the two centres by nine minutes. Between 2009 and 2018 there had been a total of 19 deaths and 87 serious injuries on 100kmh zones on SH6 between Nelson and Blenheim.

BRYA INGRAM/STUFF Part of SH6 that could see the speed reduction to 80kmh.

Members of the public were encouraged to submit on the proposal, with about 800 submissions made before the deadline on November 12. Many of those came from organisations representing several to hundreds of members.

NZTA system manager Andrew James said on Tuesday while the views of Marlborough and Nelson residents were important, "the consultation for the proposed speed limit changes is not a vote".

"It is about seeking valuable local and community input so that we can consider wider factors and context into our decisions. The question we ask during consultation is whether there are any external factors we should consider regarding the proposed speed limit changes."

Smith said the National Party would present the petition to Parliament on Wednesday, and it would be referred to the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee. The committee would report back with recommendations to the Government, Smith said.

RAHUL BHATTARAI/STUFF National's Chris Bishop, left, and Nick Smith receive the petition from Stephanie Drewery.

Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter said the speed reviews were "an operational matter" for NZTA and it was responsible for making a final decision.

"There is rarely a uniform view about speed changes. I know over the years many parents, teachers, and locals have been calling for safer speed limits along this highway. I expect NZTA to listen to the public feedback before taking a decision."

National's transportation spokesperson Chris Bishop said any speed reductions would impact the Nelson Marlborough economy and people were "expressing their strong opposition through this petition".

SCOTT HAMMOND/STUFF Renwick Transport owners Jen Hall, left, and Jacky Smith strongly oppose the speed limit drop. They say it will have an adverse effect on their business.

Smith said a better move would be to invest in passing lanes and to address real issues, like "drug drivers".

James said changing a speed limit was a legal process, and the proposal phase was to outline the details and ask for additional information that could impact the final decision.

The Road Transport Association NZ (RTNZ), NZ Trucking Association and the NZ Automobile Association (AA) met with NZTA earlier this month to express their concerns regarding the new speed limit proposal.

NZTA's safe speed calculator, Mega Maps, said 100kmh was an appropriate speed for the Renwick to Havelock section of State Highway 6.

But Harland stressed that although Mega Maps was an "important tool in the decision-making process around speed", it was not the only tool.