Road Safety Week and Youth Week Collaboration in Kaikohe

The Kaikohe Social Sector Trial brought Road Safety Week and Youth Week together yesterday on the streets of Kaikohe.

Youth Week and Road Safety Week both carry important messages for communities, and yesterday the local Youth Week Roadshow crew hijacked a police check-point and instead of handing out tickets, delivered gold stars to vehicle occupants with seat-belts on and properly restrained children.

The Youth Week crew rallied around the official theme: “Be the Change”, encouraging drivers to keep up the good practices and make sure those around them – especially young drivers and passengers – heed the important road safety messages.

Kaikohe Social Sector Trials project manager Brennan Rigby wanted to bring the two national promotions together. He says the increased police check points in Kaikohe could be seen as a negative, but road safety is a key concern for the whole community. At the same time, the check point offered a unique opportunity to promote local Youth Week activities and engage at a local level.

Police use check points for various reasons, yesterday was focused on education and increasing their visibility in Kaikohe. Local police are keen to engage with youth and the community and build new relationships.

For the Youth Week Road Show crew, standing alongside the police demonstrates respect and solidarity for what police do in communities.

For Social Sector Trials contract holder Te Pae Aronga Taitamariki, Youth Week offers the chance to align the Kaikohe Youth Action Plan work with the national Youth Week campaign. Road Safety Week is also a poignant reminder that young people need support both in driving safely and in making good decisions.

The Kaikohe Social Sector Trial and the Youth Action Plan also nurture collaboration in activities, with the check point hijack involving a large number of local organisations working together.

From 19 to 23 May the Youth Week roadshow visits schools across the mid north region. Saturday May 24th marks the end of Youth Week, to be celebrated with a party at the Kaikohe Skate Park from Midday to 4pm.

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