22 March 2007
Media Release

SAFETY WARNING:

Watch Out For Kids With Cameras In Wellington

Safekids New Zealand is reminding the local community in Wellington to take care and watch out for kids with cameras this month, as the Safekids New Zealand Photography Competition launches on 1 March 2007.

S Block at Churton Park School in Johnsonville has signed up for the Safekids Photography Competition, which aims to strengthen children’s awareness of their own safety and to enhance community awareness of children’s safety issues.

Supported by real estate company Barfoot & Thompson, (a Five Star Sponsor of the Starship Foundation), the competition requires school children to take photos of safe and unsafe scenarios, accompanied by a brief explanatory paragraph.

Project manager for Safekids New Zealand, Simone Randle said: “Every day in New Zealand, enough children to fill an average classroom are injured so badly they require admission to hospital overnight, or longer.

“We are delighted that Churton Park School is undertaking this competition, as the best way to protect our children is to educate them about safe behaviour and encourage them to think proactively about safety issues in the communities in which they live and play”.

Key safety themes promoted by Safekids include driveway safety, pedestrian safety, safe school routes, playground safety and safe behaviour at home and at play.

Designed to align with the teaching curriculum, the competition is open to all New Zealand schools.

First place winners of the two age categories, years 4-6 and 7-8, will receive $200 towards a class celebration and $500 for the school, with runner up winners taking away $100 for a class celebration and $250 for the school.

Said Simone: “We hope to have over 200 schools entering the competition, and look forward to seeing the entries at the end of March. We wish Churton Park School all the best with their efforts”.

Full competition details are available at www.safekids.org.nz/photocomp.

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