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.

Enjoy a festive fortnight of free off-street parking

Tauranga City Council is making it easier for people to enjoy the city centre this festive season, with two weeks of free off-street parking available from 20 December 2025 to 4 January 2026.

The initiative comes during a period when many office workers finish for the year, and parking demand changes across the city centre. While on-street spaces become busier, off-street car parks and parking buildings traditionally see significantly lower use.

Parking data from the last week of 2024 shows off-street parking demand dropped by over 60% when compared to other weeks in summer.

Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the free-parking window is a chance to balance demand and help people make the most of the festive season.

“This is historically a quieter period for our off-street parking facilities, so it’s an ideal time for people to make the most of free parking and enjoy what’s on offer in the city centre.

“Whether you’re popping in for last-minute Christmas shopping, visiting the waterfront and playground, catching up with friends for lunch, or hosting out-of-town whānau, this will make it even easier to spend time in the heart of our city.”

Free parking will be available at all council-operated off-street facilities, including the Elizabeth St and Spring St parking buildings, Dive Crescent, Cliff Road, TV3–Wharf St, 160–176 Devonport Road, and Haumaru Sport and Recreation Centre on Cameron Road.

Throughout the two-week period, parking machines at these locations will display a free parking message and won’t accept payment.

Throughout the year, council-operated city centre parking is free after 5pm on weekdays, all weekend, and on public holidays.

A 20-minute grace period continues to apply to all city centre parking. To use the grace period, simply park in a paid parking space for less than 20 minutes and there’s no need to make a payment via a parking machine or the app.

For more, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/parking

Posted: Dec 18, 2025,