More than 800 students from 28 local schools will march and chant through downtown Mount Maunganui in the name of road safety next Thursday, November 30.

The intermediate and primary school students will be waving self-created banners in the Schools’ Road Safe Orange Walk – a joint initiative between Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Travel Safe team and NZ Police, with support from Road Safe Traffic Management.

“We’re celebrating the road patrollers and how we helped people cross the roads safely,” says Selwyn Ridge Primary School student Ella Montgomery, who is set to participate with her peers.

Each November students across Tauranga and WBOP create banners to highlight a road safety issue or active travel promotion that is significant to them and their school.

WBOP Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter says the banner competition is a highlight of the day and judges will have a hard time on their hands if previous years’ entries are anything to go by.

“These kids have a real awareness of the roads around their schools, and the safety and active travel messages they are sharing are very relevant to them and their communities.”

“‘Road safety rules are your best tools’. That’s the message on our banner,” says Selwyn Ridge Primary School student Dashmeet Bains.

TCC transport network safety and sustainability manager Anna Somerville says the event is a chance to celebrate and reward the contribution of student volunteers for their important road safety work throughout the year.

The day begins 9.15am at Coronation Park with speeches from Commissioner Bill Wasley and WBOP Mayor James Denyer.

The walk starts 9.30am, following a route along Maunganui Rd, around the roundabout at Pacific Ave and back to the start. Temporary road closures will be in place.

Friends, family, locals and visitors are encouraged to line the route, make some noise and show their support for the students, who have collectively volunteered more than 7000 hours in 2023.

After the walk students will head to Baywave for a swim and celebratory barbecue cooked by police. For event updates, visit: facebook.com/travelsafebop