Haumarutanga rori - pakeke

Road safety - adults

The Travel Safe team work in the community to reduce accidents and improve road safety.

Young Driver Workshop

Free young driver workshops are aimed at road users aged between 16 and 24, who hold a current learner or restricted driver licence. Participants will leave with improved knowledge, confidence, and skills.

Each workshop includes:

A 60-minute one-on-one driving lesson with a certified instructor
Waka Kotahi NZTA roadworthy vehicle check (what to check to ensure your vehicle is safe and roadworthy)
Driver behaviour awareness (speed, impairment, restraints, distraction, and fatigue
Awareness session on sharing the road with heavy vehicles

Parents/caregivers are strongly encouraged to attend but it’s not compulsory. The four-hour workshops are held during school term holidays, usually between 9am and 1pm.

Drive has everything you need to prepare for your learner, restricted and full licence tests.

Visit the Drive website

Young driver workshop

Car Restraints

Looking for support around car seat restraints? Contact one of our local car seat technicians at travelsafeschools@tauranga.govt.nz. We offer free car seat installations, checks, and will help answer any questions or concerns regarding your car restraint.

Carseat installation

Parking behaviour

Drop off and pick up are busy times that pose a safety risk at the school gate. Travel Safe help schools to communicate things like parking time limits, drop off and pick up zones, parking over the kerb and other safety risks at the school gate. We deliver an in-school parking and safety programme named Peaceful Parker, and partner with council parking officers to do school visits when requested by schools or the community.

Blindzone Workshops

Blindzone workshops allow people to see the world from a truck driver’s point of view. Through a series of practical scenarios, participants will learn where to place themselves so they are visible to truck drivers and will leave with more awareness and confidence on the road.

For more on Blindzone and cycling around heavy vehicles visit Share the Road.

Blindzone workshop

Be Bright, Be Safe, Be Seen

This winter visibility programme reminds cyclists, walkers, runners, and scooter riders to have lights, bright clothing, and reflective gear if they are out and about during early mornings, evenings, and at other times of low light and poor visibility.

Whether commuting to work or school, being active for fun or fitness, or popping down to the local shops, people should take extra care and keep safe by being fully visible on roads and paths.

All cyclists are encouraged to wear high-visibility clothing and ensure their front light, rear light and rear red reflector are all working correctly and are clean.

View the official New Zealand code for cycling for more information.

An endless slice of summertime paradise

While the saying goes ‘age before beauty’, when it comes to the ninety-plus year-old Mount Beachside Holiday Park, beauty trumps age.

Established in the 1930s and nestled at the base of majestic Mauao, the popular holiday park’s stunning location has guests’ coming back for more each year, including Helen Beilby, who’s been staying at the campground for more than sixty years.

“I have lived all over New Zealand and travelled throughout the country and overseas, but we continue to return to our beloved Mount as it has so much to offer. I guess we are here partly because of tradition, fond memories and, of course, our friends.”

As a child, Helen’s parents bought a family caravan and each summer they returned to the Mount for four weeks, where they were often joined by extended family.

“My grandmother, aunties and numerous cousins joined us and we had many BBQs around the Mount and progressive dinners at the different caravans.”

Helen’s parents only stopped coming to the holiday park at 90 years young, following which she and husband Philip took over their camping spot.

“While no other family members camp there now, we have an amazing social group who we love to spend time with every year.”

Holidaying in the Bay wasn’t enough, and Helen and Philip chose to retire in Tauranga.

“We decided this was where we want to be. I have returned to the place where I had my first memories.”

And despite living locally now, Helen and Philip have continued camping at the Mount with other lifelong campers at the holiday park.

“We love the social life and the beautiful walks the Mount has to offer. A short walk into cafes and shops and, of course, the beautiful beach.”

Backing onto the Mauao Historic Reserve, Mount Beachside Holiday Park boasts one of the best holiday locations in the country.

Mount Maunganui is one of Aotearoa’s most popular holiday destinations, says Jen Scoular, Deputy Mayor of Tauranga and Mauao/Mount Maunganui Ward Councillor.

“Not only are we spoiled with this special location, we have an incredibly rich history to draw upon with the significance of the area and the length of time some of our visitors have been staying.”

“With a stunning surf beach on one side of Mauao and the beautiful Tauranga Harbour and Pilot Bay on the other, the Mount is a slice of paradise for everyone. We’re so lucky to call this awe-inspiring place home.”

Image caption

The popular holiday park’s stunning location has guests coming back for more each year, including Helen Beilby, who’s been staying at the campground for more than 60 years.

Posted: Jan 6, 2025,