Two Christchurch City Council staff were pulled over for speeding.

Thirty-five drivers have been caught breaking a new 30kmh speed limit in central Christchurch in just 90 minutes.

The new limit, which began on March 12, includes all streets bounded by, but not including, Kilmore, Madras and St Asaph streets.

Acting Senior Sergeant John Hamilton said police spent 90 minutes on Friday to see if drivers were abiding by the new limits. Stuff witnessed about 10 drivers being pulled over for speeding on the corner of Montreal and Cashel streets within 30 minutes, including two Christchurch City Council staff.

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL The purple streets have a 30kmh speed limit. The Avon precinct, in pink, will have a 10kmh limit. The yellow street is pedestrian only.

The council staff refused to comment. The council's general manager of consenting and compliance, Peter Sparrow, said it was up to the staff to pay the fines.

"Council staff have been reminded that they should be leading by example and adhering to the 30kmh speed zone within the central city."

Hamilton said most of the drivers ticketed were driving between 50kmh and 60kmh, with one motorist spotted driving 65kmh.

SAM SHERWOOD/FAIRFAX NZ Constable Andy Flitton pulled over 15 drivers in one hour.

"The reason we are doing this is we have a lot of vulnerable road users, cyclists and pedestrians that are walking across the road a lot and we want to keep these speeds down and enforce the 30kmh so the roads are safer for those people."

Scottish man Gary McGuiness, who was nabbed going 53kmh, said he was unaware of the new limit.

"I didn't realise it was 30kmh; I'm just here from the UK and I didn't realise it was a restriction."

SAM SHERWOOD/FAIRFAX NZ Police dished out their first tickets on Friday on the corner of Montreal and Cashel streets.

Bronwyn, who only wanted her first name published, said she forgot about the speed limit.

"I do recall seeing it but I haven't worked in the CBD for over seven months so I had completely forgotten the speed limit had changed.

"I'll be a bit more aware now."

Hamilton said most of the drivers pulled over were "pretty positive".

"We've had one or two that have forgotten about the 30kmh sign and haven't taken a lot of notice. But on the whole they've been positive.

"What we're trying to get across is that it's a congested, busy area with a lot of people walking around and cycling. When a car has a crash at a high speed in a congested area it's a lot more traumatic for the person on the receiving end."