JULY EDITION

What’s new this month

Kia ora koutou,

We’re officially into the second half of the year — and things are full steam ahead!

During July, we gathered in Wellington for our 2024/25 National Leaders’ hui — three full days of leadership development, SADD-focused mahi, plenty of laughs, and lots of good kai. It was an incredible reminder of the passion and potential our rangatahi bring to this kaupapa. We’re also thrilled to welcome our 2025/26 National Leaders, who we know will continue to bring energy, insight, and action to the year ahead.

We’re already gearing up for Term 3! We’ll be back out on the road delivering tailored sessions to support your SADD rōpū — and we’re excited to be rolling out our new campaign, Show Up, which encourages young people to show up for themselves, their mates, and their communities by making safe, intentional choices.

This month, we’re also shining a light on the driver licence journey — a huge milestone for many rangatahi. We’re proud to be collaborating with DRIVE (NZTA) to support young drivers with tools, tips, and guidance to help them navigate that journey safely and confidently.

And with Rail Safety Week just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to check out the Rail Safety Awards — open to all Year 9–13 students from August 15 to September 30!

As always, we’re here to back you and your mahi — so don’t hesitate to reach out, share your wins, or invite us in!

Ngā manaakitanga,
Lauren – Te Waipounamu Programme Delivery Lead

🚦On the road to get your licence?

Getting your driver's licence can feel overwhelming—but you're not alone on the journey.

Whether you're just starting out on your learners or working towards your restricted or full, it helps to know what to expect and where to find support. The process takes time, confidence, and practice—but with the right info, you’ll get there.

A great place to start is Drive.govt.nz. It’s full of helpful tools, such as road code quizzes and information for each licence stage.

Remember: getting your licence is a big step toward independence and safer driving. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, practice lots, and take it one stage at a time.

You’ve got this—and we’re cheering you on every step of the way.

Show Up - for the drive, for your mates, for your future

Term 3 is here – and we know it’s a big one! There are exams coming up, events on the calendar, and plenty going on. But that doesn’t mean road safety has to take a back seat.

This term, we’re inviting YOU to Show Up.

Showing up can look different for everyone. It might mean checking your mates are safe to drive, helping someone find another way home, running an awareness activity at school, or simply speaking up when something doesn’t feel right. Whether it’s a big event or a quiet moment, it all counts.

When we all Show Up—for the drive, for our mates, and for the future—we make a real difference. Safer journeys start with people who care enough to take action.

It’s easy to get involved

Getting involved in the campaign can be as simple as running a lunchtime activity, putting up posters, creating content, or starting a conversation. There are prizes up for grabs, plus you’ll be part of a national movement of students standing up for safer roads.

Need help getting started? We’re here to support you!
We can help with planning, ideas, and even run workshops if you're keen. Just reach out.

👉 Visit the Show Up campaign page to get inspired and start planning.
👉 Get in touch with our team if you’d like help or want to run something big!

This term, let's make it known:
We care. We act. We show up.

Young Leaders Connect at NLP Hui 2025

In July, a group of passionate student leaders came together in Wellington for our National Leadership Programme (NLP) hui — an inspiring few days of connection, growth, and big ideas for the future of youth road safety. Students met with key figures in the road safety space, developed their leadership skills, and explored ways to create lasting impact in their communities.

Read more about the hui and what the students took away from the experience here: NLP Hui 2025 – SADD Blog

Rail Safety Week

Rail Safety Week is happening this term, with great prizes up for grabs, including Prezzy cards and free SADD conference registrations. Even if your school isn’t near train tracks, it’s a great chance to raise awareness – we can help you with resources and ideas.

Whether you need quick advice or full workshop support, we’ve got you covered – let’s show up for road safety this term!

Youth Engagement Survey: Key Road Safety Insights

We recently gathered insights from hundreds of young people across Aotearoa about road safety and their online habits. The Youth Engagement Survey explored what messaging resonates with students, who influences their driving decisions, and how they respond in risky situations.

We’ve put together a report with the key insights from this survey. We hope this sparks ideas, reflection and collaboration. If you'd like to chat about the findings, or discuss ways we could co-create campaigns to reach more youth and influence safer choices on our roads, we’d love to hear from you.

Check out the report here:
SADD research — Students Against Dangerous Driving

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

• Rail Safety Week - 11th - 15th August

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

Once again, we have multiple people to thank for thinking of us when finding a road safety organisation that resonates with them.

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

JC, GS & TD from Auckland, CB from Hastings, SS from Halcombe, MM from Upper Hutt, SH from Wellington, JP from Nelson, ED from Marlborough, SS from Christchurch and UM from Lincoln.

Big thank-you to you all!

If you would like to donate to SADD you can do so via the website.

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