Hawke’s Bay Regional Workshop

Hawke’s Bay is levelling up: 7 new schools join SADD

The sun was out, the BBQ was sizzling, and the energy in Hawke’s Bay was electric. On March 12th, we didn’t just host a regional workshop — we sparked momentum.

With a huge surge of interest from local schools, the workshop was packed with new students ready to step up and make a difference on New Zealand roads.

The day kicked off with Mel, Programme Delivery Lead for the Central North Island, introducing SADD and sharing how students can start and grow their own groups. From activity ideas and community partnerships to the range of resources available, students gained a clear picture of what’s possible in their schools.

But this wasn’t a sit-and-listen kind of day. Students got hands-on — navigating activities with impairment goggles, contributing to pledge walls, and tagging the SADD car with road safety messages. It was all about showing how simple, engaging, and impactful SADD activities can be, with plenty of ideas to take back and run at their own schools.

In the afternoon, the focus shifted to planning and action. Students explored the SADD website, started mapping out their next steps, and heard from National Leader Sean, who shared his leadership journey and the project he’s currently working on — giving real insight into what it means to step up as a SADD leader.

One standout moment (aside from the legendary BBQ skills of Officers Mark Johnson and Ken Hunt) was the Booze Bus experience. It gave students a powerful, eye-opening look at the realities of impaired driving, leaving a lasting impression and valuable knowledge to take away.

The day was a huge success, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from students and a clear sense of momentum building across the region.

A big thank you to our community partners for their support — Liz and Helen from RoadSafe HB, Renee from Western Rangers Football Club, and NZ Police.