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.

Play your way across Tauranga this Play Week Aotearoa

Play is being celebrated and encouraged across Tauranga next week, with a range of fun, family-friendly activities on offer as part of Play Week Aotearoa 2025.

Running 20 – 26 October, this national initiative led by Sport New Zealand in collaboration with Tauranga City Council and Sport Bay of Plenty encourages people of all ages to engage in play, so children and adults can experience the benefits such as movement, connection and wellbeing.

As part of the planned events in Tauranga, adults are encouraged to challenge their workmates and take part in lunchtime games at Red Square in the city centre throughout the week or play board games at Pāpāmoa Library. Children and their whānau can explore the Historic Village at Bub's Play Day on Thursday, 23 October, jump on the Halloween Trail at Tauranga Library on Saturday, 25 October, or check out Tutarawānanga – Yatton Park on Sunday, 26 October for Nature Play Day.

People keen to celebrate Play Week in their own time can take on the play trail through the city centre anytime by downloading a map from the What’s on Tauranga website. There’s also a downloadable inclusive activity card, developed in collaboration with Parafed Bay of Plenty, which offers play challenges for all abilities to enjoy at home, school, or out in the community.

With Tauranga being home to awa (water), ngahere (forest), whenua (land), maunga (mountain), and the moana (sea), our city’s natural environment also offers diverse settings for play.

Deputy Mayor and Mauao/Mount Maunganui Ward Councillor Jen Scoular says some people may think play only relates to playgrounds and sports field but there are many other ways to experience play – not just during Play Week, but every week.

“We have Mauao and McLaren Falls right on our doorstep for wonderful options to explore the outdoors, especially now that summer is approaching, and daylight hours are longer. These outdoor options really add to the diverse range of playgrounds. walkways, skateparks, and sports courts and fields available across Tauranga,” says Jen.

“Play adds joy, it is fun, and it is great for our physical and mental health. Play can build friendships and a life-long love of being active and learning new skills. I encourage the people of Tauranga across all ages to make time for play in their lives and celebrate different ways to do that over Play Week.”

The full programme of events for Play Week Aotearoa 2025 can be found at: whatsontauranga.co.nz/play-week-2025

Play Week Aotearoa 2025
20 – 26 October 2025

Posted: Oct 15, 2025,