The Wairarapa Road Safety Council is an incorporated society that works in partnership with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and the three territorial authorities — Masterton District Council, Carterton District Council, and South Wairarapa District Council — to deliver approved road safety programmes across the Wairarapa region.
Our work aligns with New Zealand’s Government Policy Statement (GPS) on land transport, which places safety at the heart of transport investment, planning, and decision-making. This national direction supports a safe system approach that recognises people make mistakes, and that no mistake should result in death or serious injury.
We share the vision of creating a safer Wairarapa transport system that is increasingly free from death and serious injury for everyone who uses our roads — whether driving, walking, cycling, riding, or travelling as passengers.
Road trauma continues to have a significant impact across Aotearoa New Zealand, affecting individuals, whānau, workplaces, and communities. Through education, community engagement, advocacy, and partnerships, we help deliver local actions that contribute to national safety outcomes.
The GPS prioritises investment in safer roads and roadsides, safer vehicles, safer speeds, and safer road use, supported by strong leadership and accountability. The Wairarapa Road Safety Council contributes to these priorities by working locally to encourage safer behaviours, improve awareness, and strengthen a positive road safety culture across our communities.
By working together with councils, agencies, schools, Police, and community partners, we can help ensure everyone gets where they need to go safely.
Getting a driver licence is a major milestone for young people, but it also comes with responsibility. In the Wairarapa, young drivers are overrepresented in crash statistics, particularly on rural roads. Through education, licensing support, and youth-led programmes like Kaitiaki o Ara (Students Against Dangerous Driving), we work with schools and communities to help rangatahi build the skills, confidence, and awareness needed to become safe drivers.
Correctly fitted child restraints save lives, yet many are installed incorrectly. Our car seat clinics provide free checks and practical guidance to help parents and caregivers make sure their child’s seat is fitted safely and used correctly. With advice from trained technicians, we help whānau understand the right restraint for their child and how to use it properly—giving tamariki the best protection on every journey.
The Recidivist Drink Driving Programme provides support for repeat drink driving offenders through alcohol counselling and education. By addressing the underlying causes of unsafe behaviour, the programme helps participants make safer choices, reduce reoffending, and work toward regaining their driver licence. It also offers a pathway to reduced disqualification periods through successful completion.
The Wairarapa has one of the highest proportions of older adults in New Zealand, and many people are driving and staying mobile later in life. We support programmes that help older road users remain safe and confident on the road, including workshops that refresh driving knowledge, vehicle fit checks, and guidance for mobility scooter users. Working alongside community partners, we help older adults maintain their independence while promoting safer travel for everyone.
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