MEDIA RELEASE

Wairarapa whānau urged to make every trip a safe one for tamariki

Wairarapa Road Safety Council and Whānau Āwhina Plunket are joining forces this November with two free initiatives designed to help Wairarapa whānau make sure their tamariki are travelling safely — every seat, every trip, every time.

From 2–27 November, Wairarapa families can drop off damaged or expired child restraints free of charge at REAP House, 340 Queen Street, Masterton, before the month finishes with a free Drive-Through Car Seat Clinic on Saturday 28 November, from 9am–12pm at Masterton Plunket, corner of Bunny Street and Worksop Road.

Wairarapa Road Safety Council Projects Coordinator and qualified Child Restraint Technician Holly Hullena says the two events are about making it as easy as possible for parents and caregivers to do the right thing.

“Car seats are one of those things we use so often that it’s easy to assume everything is fine. But children grow, seats move between vehicles, harnesses need adjusting and restraints eventually reach the end of their usable life,” Hullena says.

“We want whānau to use November as their prompt to have a really good look at the seat their child is travelling in. Is it still within its usable life? Is it the right restraint for their child? Is it installed correctly? Is the harness being used properly every single trip?”

The month-long Expired Car Seat Collection gives families a simple and free way to dispose of restraints that should no longer be used.

Seats can be handed in at REAP House reception between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday, from 2–27 November.

Hullena says removing expired and damaged restraints from circulation is an important part of the safety message.

“An old car seat sitting in the garage can easily end up being passed on to another family with the very best intentions. But if it’s expired, damaged, missing parts or its history isn’t known, it may not provide the protection a child needs.”

Information about child restraints, including guidance to help families check their seats, is available on the Wairarapa Road Safety Council website.

The campaign then moves from retiring old restraints to checking those currently in use, with the Drive-Through Car Seat Clinic on Saturday 28 November.

No appointment is required. Parents and caregivers can simply drive in between 9am and 12pm, where qualified technicians will check child restraints, make adjustments where possible and provide practical advice. Anchor bolt installation will also be available on site where required.

Whānau Āwhina Plunket Injury Prevention Coordinator Renee White says having a car seat is only part of protecting a child — it also needs to be appropriate for the child and vehicle and used correctly.

“A child restraint is there to do a very important job if the unexpected happens, so getting those everyday details right really matters,” White says.

“Sometimes it can be something quite simple — a harness that needs adjusting, a tether that isn’t being used correctly, or a child who has outgrown their current restraint. Having a qualified technician take a look gives parents and caregivers the opportunity to ask questions and make sure they know how to use their child’s restraint correctly.”

With summer approaching and many families preparing for longer journeys, both organisations hope the November events will encourage people to check their restraints before holiday travel begins.

Hullena says the message is ultimately much bigger than complying with the law.

“Our tamariki rely on the adults around them to make these decisions for them. A baby can’t tell you their harness is too loose. A four-year-old doesn’t know whether their seat is installed correctly, and a child isn’t responsible for knowing whether their restraint has expired.”

“You are their voice and their advocate in the vehicle. They’re trusting you to make the safest choice for them — not just on the big trip away for Christmas, but on the two-minute trip to school, down to the shops or around the corner to Nana’s.”

“That’s the responsibility we want people to think about. Every time you put a child in the car, take those extra few seconds to make sure they are restrained properly. It’s a small action, but if something goes wrong on that journey, it can make an enormous difference.”

White agrees that consistency is key.

“There shouldn’t be a ‘short trip’ exception when it comes to child restraint safety. Building the habit of checking that your tamariki are correctly restrained every time the vehicle moves is one of the simplest ways we can help protect them.”

The organisations are encouraging grandparents, wider whānau and anyone else who regularly transports children to think about their vehicles too.

“You might only pick up your mokopuna once a week or occasionally have somebody else’s child in your car, but they deserve the same protection,” Hullena says.

“And please don’t be embarrassed to come through the clinic because you think something might be wrong. That is exactly why we are there. We would much rather help you fix something in the car park than have you drive away unsure.”

FREE EXPIRED CAR SEAT COLLECTION

2–27 November 2026
REAP House, 340 Queen Street, Masterton
Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm
Damaged and expired child restraints can be dropped off free of charge.

FREE DRIVE-THROUGH CAR SEAT CLINIC

Saturday 28 November 2026
9am–12pm
Masterton Plunket
Corner Bunny Street & Worksop Road, Masterton

No appointment required. Drive through for a free child restraint check, practical advice and adjustments from qualified technicians. Anchor bolt installation will also be available on site where required.

For child restraint information and advice, including information to help check your restraint, visit the Wairarapa Road Safety Council website – Child Restraints & Car Seat Safety, or contact Holly on 06 377 1379 or rsc@wairsc.org.nz.

ENDS

Media contact:
Holly Hullena
Projects Coordinator | Qualified Child Restraint Technician
Wairarapa Road Safety Council
06 377 1379
rsc@wairsc.org.nz

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