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.

Full Mauao night closures following multiple fireworks breaches

In response to fireworks being let off on Mauao over multiple nights this week, a full overnight closure will be in place for the next three evenings to protect the maunga and ensure public safety.

Mauao will be fully closed from 7pm to 5am, starting Friday 7 November until the morning of Monday 10 November 2025. Fencing and signage will be in place at all closure points.

Fireworks were first discharged from the summit on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings this week. In response, four Māori Wardens were stationed on the maunga on Thursday evening, but despite their presence, fireworks were again let off. Due to the number of people spread across the maunga, it was not possible to contain the activity.

“While we appreciate this closure impacts those who enjoy Mauao in the evenings, this is the only way to ensure the safety of the public and the protection of the maunga,” says a Mauao Trust representative.

“We do not take this decision lightly. Māori Wardens were deployed to monitor activity, but despite their presence, fireworks continued to be discharged. This behaviour is reckless, and the fire danger is real. Closing Mauao overnight is not our preferred course of action, but it has become necessary. We will reassess after the weekend.”

Mauao is protected by a permanent fire ban, with fireworks and open flames strictly prohibited. This ban exists to protect the maunga from fire, which poses a serious threat to native wildlife and public safety.

This time of year brings particularly high fire risk, with dry vegetation and strong winds. Fires can spread rapidly on the steep terrain, making them extremely difficult to contain.

The January 2016 fire, which started as a scrub fire on the northeastern face of the maunga, quickly grew and destroyed 4,000 square metres of vegetation - a reminder of how quickly fire can take hold.

We appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation in respecting the closure.

For updates, please visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/mauao

Posted: Nov 7, 2025,