AUGUST EDITION

What’s new this month

Kia ora SADD whānau,

Can you believe it's already the end of August? There's no time for the winter blues—we're full steam ahead and action-packed in Term 3!

Our "Show Up" campaign is in full swing! Road safety isn’t just about rules; it’s about responsibility, respect, and real-life choices. Whether you’re making sure your friends are getting home safely, supporting your friend’s driver licence conditions, choosing not to get in the car with an unsafe driver, or speaking up when it matters - how you show up can change everything.

We’ve already seen some incredible work from the SADD groups. Thank you for your amazing efforts—keep up the good work! It's not too late to get involved.  All your activities you do this term counts for “Show Up”.  Register now to be part of the campaign and get in the running for some awesome prizes! There’s still plenty of time to fit in another activity before the term ends, and we can't wait to see what you come up with. sadd.org.nz/show-up

We’re also looking forward to meeting our new National Leaders in person at the NLP hui next month in Christchurch. Our leaders are incredibly passionate and driven, full of great ideas, and radiating with positivity and enthusiasm - get ready to see some amazing things from them over the next year!

Our delivery team has been out and about, running workshops and supporting your activities. If you need any help or want to share any ideas, don't hesitate to reach out to your delivery lead.

A quick reminder: the Rail Safety Awards are still open for Year 9-13 students until September 30th. Don't miss your chance to enter!

Winter is on its way out, and spring is just around the corner. Let's keep making good choices on the road and stay safe.

Nga mihi nui,

Mel – Central North Island Programme Delivery Lead

Monthly Theme: Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is something every young person experiences, but how we respond makes all the difference. At SADD, we know that speaking up for yourself – and for others – can create safer choices on our roads and beyond. Whether it’s saying no to unsafe behaviour, encouraging friends to make good decisions, or simply choosing not to go along with the crowd, every action counts.

Together, we can build a culture where supporting each other is stronger than any pressure to fit in.

💡 Tips for Handling Peer Pressure

• Pause & Think – Take a moment before responding so you can make your own choice.

• Have a Line Ready – A simple “nah, I’m good” or “not my thing” works.

• Suggest Something Else – Redirect with a safer or more fun option.

• Back Each Other Up – Support friends who are also saying no.

• Remember Your Why – Your safety, values, and goals matter most.

Delivery Team Highlights

Rolleston Students Take Their Message to Council Chambers!

On 21 August, students from Rolleston College SADD showed true leadership by speaking at the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee public forum. They raised awareness about the lack of driver testing facilities in Selwyn, explaining how this impacts young people and why a local testing site would make a huge difference. Students shared their perspective directly with mayors and councillors from across Canterbury, making a strong case for change that would also take pressure off Christchurch testing centres. An awesome example of youth voice in action!

Meanwhile, SADD groups around the motu have been busy putting road safety front and centre:

• Te Puke High School – pledge keyrings, a new school sign comp, and fatal vision goggle challenges for SADD Week.

• Hamilton Girls’ High – a student-led Q&A with Police.

• Northland Schools (Tauraroa Area, Te Kāmo High & Whangārei Girls’ High) – epic Show Up events with obstacle courses, quizzes, and “What Would You Miss?” activities.

These are just a few of the creative ways students continue to show up for each other and champion safer choices nationwide.

Rail Safety Week: SADD Regional Leader speaks at Parliament!

Community Rail Safety Awards – Entries Now Open!

The Community Rail Safety Awards, run by KiwiRail and TrackSAFE, celebrate secondary students who go above and beyond to spread the word about rail safety.

Prizes include Prezzy cards and fully-funded spots at the 2026 SADD Conference!

How to Enter:

• Take part in a rail safety activity or campaign

• Write a summary (up to 400 words) in PDF format

• Email it to contactus@kiwirail.co.nz with the subject line:
  ‘KiwiRail/TrackSAFE Community Rail Safety Award Application’

Applications open 15 August – 30 September 2025, visit sadd.org.nz/rail-safety for more information and activity ideas!

Meet our new National Leaders!

We’re excited to introduce our new team of National Leaders for 2025! These passionate ākonga have stepped up to represent SADD at a national level, bringing their creativity, energy, and commitment to road safety. They’ll be leading projects, sharing ideas, and supporting SADD students across the motu throughout the year.

You can get to know them and read more in our latest blog post - Welcome to our new year 12 National Leaders! — Students Against Dangerous Driving

Still Time to Show Up in Term 3!

A big thank you to everyone who has been involved in Show Up so far this term! We’ve loved seeing the creative activities you’ve run and hearing about the constructive conversations you’ve sparked with your peers. It’s inspiring to see students leading the way and showing up for each other.

There’s still plenty of time left in Term 3 to get involved, and we’d love to see even more schools join in. A simple but powerful way to spread the message is by putting up Show Up posters in your school – these are available to order for free from our website - Get Free Stuff — Students Against Dangerous Driving

Every action, big or small, helps create safer communities. Keep showing up – it matters!

From local workshops to national campaigns, there’s always something happening with SADD. Check out our events page for what’s coming up and how you can be part of the movement for safer roads.

Key events coming up this term include:

• Show Up - all Term 3

• Motorcycle Awareness Month - September

• Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - 14th - 20th September

This edition, we send a huge thank-you to those who pushed our donation button to send funds safely zooming our way!

In the last month, we have received generous donations from:

TS, JG, MW, RL & AP from Auckland, SS from Hamilton, DC from Taranaki, EH & BR from Wellington, KS from Nelson, AD from Canterbury, SR from Dunedin & HB from Wanaka.

Ngā mihi nui!

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