Next time you’re in Morrinsville CBD, you’ll see a mix of freshly painted courtesy and zebra crossings to help make it easier for pedestrians to move around the town centre.

The work is part of our Morrinsville CBD accessibility improvements plan, which included providing dedicated places for pedestrians to cross the main street, particularly those with limited mobility, a visual impairment or those who push prams or use mobility aids.

Over the last few months, we have refreshed the existing zebra crossing between Studholme Street and Moorhouse Street and converted two others into zebra crossings, one between Lorne Street and Studholme Street and the other, between Moorhouse Street and Canada Street. The upgrades mean there are now three raised pedestrian (zebra) crossings on Thames Street. At zebra crossings, drivers must give way to pedestrians who are on the crossing or obviously waiting to cross. This means slowing down and stopping if necessary to allow pedestrians to pass safely.

The plan also saw 14 existing courtesy crossings improved with red coloured road marking. Courtesy crossings provide crossing options where there is no zebra crossing and typically placed where pedestrians are most likely to cross, also known as a ‘natural desire line’. Courtesy crossings are intended to facilitate eye contact between pedestrians and drivers resulting in a mutually negotiated position over who goes first. Drivers may show ‘courtesy’ and give a nod or wave, indicating the pedestrian is safe to cross.

Courtesy crossing provide a number of benefits including:

Convenience for pedestrians – courtesy crossings provide a designated area for pedestrians to cross so reduces the amount of people trying to cross between cars and around parking spaces.

Reduces confusion – the crossing points are clearly marked making it easier to know where it is safe to cross, even if they don’t have the same legal priority as at zebra crossings.

Reminds drivers to yield – marked courtesy crossings serve as a visual cue to drivers to be more aware of pedestrians. Drivers aren’t required by law to stop (as they are at a formal zebra crossing), but the marked crossing encourages them to slow down and be cautious.

Enhances pedestrian safety - when vehicles approach an intersection, drivers might not always be looking for pedestrians if they don't have a formal crossing to stop at. A courtesy crossing can help highlight the potential presence of pedestrians and encourage drivers to remain alert.

We have also improved five mobility parks along Thames Street, adding asphalt ramps and steel plates to create step-free access to the footpath. They also dropped some kerbs to make them safer and more accessible for pedestrians and wheeled mobility aids to move from the footpath to cross the road.

As a result of a Morrinsville community poll in October last year, we have also removed the courtesy crossings on Thames Street at the Studholme Street roundabout. The kerb will be reinstated and barriers put up shortly.

The Morrinsville CBD accessibility improvements were informed by accessibility audits carried out in 2021-2023 and work with accessibility groups to see how journeys could be improved for those who get around on foot, push prams or use mobility aids. Thanks to external funding, we were able to action just over 50% of the upgrades and improvements identified in the audits in Matamata and Morrinsville. The Matamata accessibility improvements were completed in April 2025. The Te Aroha CBD accessibility improvements are set to take place in the 2025/2026 financial year.

Visit mpdc.nz/accessibility to read more about the district’s accessibility improvements and to see a map and full list of the Morrinsville CBD accessibility improvements.

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