Police Minister Michael Woodhouse has asked for a review of the zero-tolerance speeding message, saying it led to confusion during the summer road safety campaign.
Seventeen people died on the roads over the official Christmas holiday road toll period, compared to seven last year and six the year before.
Woodhouse told Radio New Zealand he supported zero-tolerance for poor driving, but feedback indicated the speed tolerance message was confusing.
The use of the term zero-tolerance led people to believe there would be no discretion on the speed limit, but police have told him that was not the case.
“Zero-tolerance was for very poor driving behaviour, that would lead to death and injury on our roads,” Woodhouse said.
“Police maintained a discretion, the speed cameras had a 4 [kilometre an hour] discretion but I accept that there may have been some confusion in the mind of the New Zealand public about what those discretions were.”
The minister hoped the review will be completed in time for any changes to be made before the Easter holiday period.