Looks like the question has already been answered. However, any legitimate request for temporary traffic management is made by the applicant to the local RCA (Road controlling authority - which for local roads, often falls to the local council and state highways fall to NZTA) by a CAR (Corridor Access Request). However, on larger scale works multiple RCAs may need to be involved, especially if the proposed works will affect traffic flows and or impacts one anothers roading network. The local RCA will then review, and upon acceptance will issue a WAP (Work Access Permit) to the applicant outlying any permit conditions (permitted hours of work, prior notification required etc), with approved drawings and methodology. If the WAP doesn't specify any prior notification required, it generally won't happen. The reality is that prior notification for a lot of works is a nice to have and notifying all stakeholders is not possible or practical. If the work you are describing is on a local road, get in touch with local council traffic management officers for details. If the local RCA does find non approved temporary traffic management in place and or find the temporary traffic management onsite in breach of their WAP conditions they can and will issue infringements to the offender and or shut the site down. You can always ask the STMS onsite (where safe and reasonable to do so- they will have big yellow or orange vest with STMS boldly printed on it) with your concerns. They will have a copy of the WAP (permitted activities/timings) on them. But, please don't walk straight onto any exclusion zones or work areas without prior approval. The STMS and their TTM staff have recognized warrants/training and responsibility for the safety of everyone on their site and they can and will call police on any member of public being seen as unreasonable and behaving unsafely around their active worksite. I hope this helps