SEPTEMBER EDITION

Kia ora koutou,

Welcome to the September edition of our Kaitiaki o Ara/SADD newsletter! Spring is here, and with it comes fresh opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate the mahi happening across the motu.

The theme of the month is Safe Active Transport – Supporting Students on the Move, an important issue as rangatahi are frequently on the move and the support needed to ensure this is done safely can be overlooked. Read below for ideas on how SADD students can play a role in supporting students on the move.

The first year of the new term 3 campaign, Show Up! was a success! Students found so many different ways to Show Up. Read below for a few highlights from around the country, including a recap of another successful Wairarapa Youth Road Safety Symposium!

Did you know that being involved in SADD can unlock other opportunities? Read about Deklin’s story below and check out the SADD website for more information: Pathways and Opportunities

Finally, the dates are locked in for Conference 2026! Add it to your calendar now.

Ngā mihi nui,
Sophie - Team Admin

Monthly Theme: Safe Active Transport – Supporting Students on the Move

Walking, biking, or scootering to school is more than just a way to get from A to B. Safe active transport helps students build independence, stay active, and arrive at school ready to learn. It also reduces traffic congestion and creates safer school zones for everyone.

Encouraging safe active transport means making sure students have the right support—like safe crossings, good bike facilities, and clear reminders about road safety.

SADD students can play an important role in this space too. By leading awareness campaigns, running activities that highlight active travel options, and working with their school community to address safety concerns, they can help make walking, biking, and scootering safer and more appealing for their peers

Thank you for SHOWING UP!

As this term wraps up, we want to thank every single one of you who Showed Up. This was our very first year running the campaign, and we’ve been so impressed by the creativity, passion, and commitment schools brought to life across the motu.

Showing up isn’t just about being present—it’s about making a choice. It’s about showing up for yourself, building confidence, and making yourself proud. It’s about showing up for the cause, standing with your peers, and reminding others that road safety matters. Most importantly, it’s about showing up to keep others safe. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to a culture of care on our roads.

This year, students found so many different ways to show up:

• Inglewood High School ran a full SADD campaign week with competitions, obstacle courses, and a hi-vis day.

• Te Puke High School encouraged pledges to avoid dangerous drivers and decorated their school with safety messages.

• Rangitoto College held a SADD Expo with NZ Police, FENZ, and Auckland Transport, alongside a road-safety themed bake sale.

• Rolleston College took their message beyond school, presenting to mayors at a regional road safety forum about the need for a local driver testing centre.

• Tauranga Girls’ College reached nearly their whole school through a road safety presentation, quiz, and lunchtime crafts activity.

• Dannevirke High School created videos and a skit for their school assembly, bringing the Show Up campaign to life.

And that’s just a snapshot—schools right across the country showed up with posters, quizzes, videos, conversations, and community action.

Remember—showing up doesn’t only happen in Term 3. You can step in at any time of the year, in any way that works for you. Whether it’s sparking a conversation, running an activity, or simply making safer choices yourself, your presence and effort could truly make a difference in someone’s life and how they think about road safety.

Thank you for proving that when we show up together, we create real change 💪

Unlocking Opportunities With SADD: Deklin's story

Being part of SADD isn’t just about making safer choices on the road—it also connects you to opportunities that can shape your future. Through SADD, young people develop leadership skills, build confidence, and gain real experiences that stand out on CVs, award applications, and in future careers.

Students like Deklin have shown how involvement in SADD can link into other pathways, from leadership in St John Youth to completing parts of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award. SADD helps you grow, connect, and achieve more than you might realise.

👉 Discover Deklin’s story here and explore SADD’s pathways and opportunities.

Youth ‘Show Up’ in Wairarapa

Students from across the Wairarapa came together for a powerful Youth Road Safety Symposium, exploring how they can “show up” for themselves, their friends, and their communities. With support from local road safety partners, the day was full of collaboration, creativity, and fresh ideas to make roads safer.

➡️ Check out the full recap on the blog

Conference 2026!

The most anticipated event is returning in April 2026, with two events scheduled for Dunedin and Cambridge!!

Dunedin (John McGlashan College): 7th - 9th April
Cambridge (St Peter’s College): 14th - 16th April

A big thank you to the awesome people below who have made donations to Kaitiaki o Ara/SADD this month.

TS, ZT & AP from Auckland, HC from Rotorua and MS from Wellington.

Every dollar donated goes directly to supporting students and providing resources across Aotearoa. Ngā mihi!

If you would like to join these ranks by donating to SADD, you can do so here.

Kerry Campbell (Upper North Island) email or call 022 319 6101
Melanie Wallace (Central North Island) email or call 027 239 6610
Bobbi Hutchinson (Lower North Island) email or call 021 761 649
Mark McCallum-Unwin (Christchurch Area) email or call 027 451 1253
Lauren Robinson (South Island) email or call 021 624 198