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.

Share your dreams for the Hopukiore – Mount Drury play area

Unicorns to bounce on, a firefighter’s pole, sand pits, more climbing activities and swings – these are just some of the inspired submissions we’ve received so far for refreshing the Hopukiore – Mount Drury play area.

Deputy Mayor of Tauranga and Mauao/Mount Maunganui Ward Councillor Jen Scoular, encourages the community to get creative and share their ideas on how we can make one of the city’s most popular play spaces even more awesome.

“We’re loving all the amazing feedback we’ve received to date. Our community really values the natural environment and historical significance of Hopukiore – Mount Drury, as well as its proximity to the beach, harbour, cafes and shops. It’s a much-loved space, so let us know what would make this great space even better - we want locals and park users to help us shape the upgrade.”

Two public feedback sessions will be held at the Hopukiore – Mount Drury playground this week on Wednesday, 12 February from 10am to 12pm, and Saturday, 15 February from 11am to 1pm.

“Drop by and share your feedback. It’s a fantastic opportunity for both kids and adults to have their say in person. We want to hear from creative minds, whether big or small,” says Jen.

At the public feedback sessions, we'll have ‘Dream it, Draw it’ feedback forms for the kids to get creative and share their ideas, ice blocks, games, and more. If you can’t make it in person, share your ideas online at letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/hopukioredreams

Community feedback opened in December and will run until 5pm, Monday, 17 February 2025. All suggestions will be reviewed as part of the design process, alongside iwi and hapū values, as well as technical and site-specific considerations.

As part of the Hopukiore – Mount Drury play space upgrade, we’re also talking to key stakeholders such as local schools and kura, iwi and hapū partners.

After feedback closes, a concept design for the play area will be developed, shaped by the community’s ideas. This design will be shared with the community for further input in early to mid-2025. Construction is anticipated to get underway in early 2026.

Posted: Feb 11, 2025,