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Motorcyclist Crash Statistics: 2022–2023 (Wairarapa Districts)

Masterton District:
2022: 1 fatality involving a motorcyclist. 6 injury crashes, including: 2 serious injuries and 4 minor injuries
2023 (provisional):No reported fatalities. 5 injury crashes (2 serious, 3 minor)
Key locations: State Highway 2, Te Ore Ore Road, and rural outskirts north of Masterton.

Carterton District:
2022: No fatalities. 3 injury crashes, including: 1 serious injury and 2 minor injuries
2023 (provisional): 1 fatal motorcycle crash, 2 injury crashes (both minor)
Key locations: Park Road, State Highway 2 south of Carterton, and rural intersections.

South Wairarapa District:
2022: 1 fatality. 4 injury crashes, including: 2 serious injuries and 2 minor injuries
2023 (provisional): 1 fatality. 3 injury crashes (1 serious, 2 minor)
Key locations: Rimutaka Hill Road (SH2), Western Lake Road, and Martinborough–Lake Ferry route.

Regional Summary – Wairarapa (2022–2023):
Total fatalities (confirmed & provisional): 4
Total injury crashes involving motorcyclists: 23 (approx.)
Common crash factors: Loss of control on bends, Excessive speed Inexperience or unfamiliarity with rural roads
High-risk times: Weekends, public holidays, and during summer/autumn riding seasons

Key Trends in Wairarapa (2022–2023):
- Recreational motorcycling continues to grow, especially among older riders (40+).
- Tourism-related riding contributes to increased traffic on scenic but challenging rural roads.
- Rimutaka Hill Road remains a high-risk corridor, with frequent motorcycle incidents reported.

 Sources for Localised Data:
- [Waka Kotahi NZTA – Crash Analysis System (CAS)](https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/safety-resources/crash-analysis-system/)
- Greater Wellington Regional Council – Road Safety Reports
- NZ Police – Wairarapa Area Crash Insights
- [Ministry of Transport – Motorcyclist Crash Facts](https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-road-deaths/motorcyclists/)

 

RIDE FOREVER

The only nationally available, certified rider coaching in New Zealand, delivered by experts.

From learning how to keep yourself safe on the daily commute to honing the most advanced riding techniques, there's a Ride Forever course to suit your needs. Ride Forever courses also support NZTA's Competency-based Training and Assessment requirements for licensing.   

While each course delivers important skills on its own, the full complement is designed to help you progress to a higher level. So, if you start at Urban/Commuter or Bronze, you can advance through Silver to Gold level, taking a maximum of two courses per year along the way (only one Gold course is permitted each year). Once there, you can continue to take a Gold refresher course each year.


FREE SAFETY CHECKS

The 'machine' might have been stored in the shed for a long winter & needs to be safe and set up before you take to the road. Book a FREE workshop safety check at any one of these amazing stores;

  • Langlands Motorcycles - 06 378 8444
  • Sargents Motorcycles - 06 379 7887
  • Fagan Suzuki - 0800 500 051

Check out how to maintain and regularly check your motorcycle at rideforever.co.nz


Ride On!

Keep up to date with best routes to travel on your motorcycling journey!


Riding the Rimutakas & Wairarapa

A guide produced by the Wairarapa Road Safety Council to promote safe and enjoyable riding in our region, it gives some tips for riding the Rimutaka Hill Road and some golden rules about riding. Produced with input from professional instructors and local riders.

Route Map

NZTA riding route map being produced for our area. (Not yet available)


Motorcycle Licence Information


Motorcycle Instructors, stockists & advocates

Wairarapa Stockists

  • Evolved Performance - 06 379 5153
  • Langlands Motorcycles - 06 378 8444
  • Sargents Motorcycles -  06 379 7887
  • Fagan Suzuki - 0800 500 051

Local Wairarapa
The Motorcycle Academy – Garry Hardgrave (06) 3709010 or 0276433133

Wellington
Roadsafe Motorcycle Riding Techniques – Andrew & Lynne Templeton (04) 2320110 or 027 2459510 admin@roadsafe.co.nz or visit  www.roadsafe.co.nz

Two Bald Bikers - 0800 560 022 - or check out http://www.twobaldbikers.co.nz

Motorcycle Safety Advocates
Brittany Morrow "the road rash queen" - Rock the Gear- or check out facebook @TheRoadrashQueen

Dave Moss - Tuning website click http://www.davemosstuning.com or facebook @davemosstuning 

 

Scooters

The Scooter Survival Facebook page has been created to help scooter riders and potential scooter riders become safer on New Zealand roads. Check out their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ScooterSurvivalNZ

 

Ride Forever - vital courses for every rider!

Bruce Pauling, Manager of the Wairarapa Road Safety Council, said motorcycle safety was a’high concern’ for the Wairarapa, with the Remutaka Hill being a high risk motorcycle route, and our narrow winding rural roads, especially in South Wairarapa, providing a challenge to riders.

 

His ‘’let’s get ready to ride’ safety initiative depended on amazing community support from local business. “Evolved Performance, Sargents motorcycles, Fagan Suzuki & Langlands Honda have been outstanding in supporting our combined efforts to promote these ACC led ‘life saving’ safety courses for riders, who are extremely vulnerable if involved in a crash".

 

"We encourage riders to book in for a free m/cycle safety check at one of these amazing local m/cycle retailers, get a free ‘tote bag’ of rider accessories & then pick up our flier to then book a free ‘ride forever’ on-road safety course".

 

Riders who complete courses are also entered into monthly draws for $250 prize vouchers to be redeemed at local motorcycle retailers, for either workshop work or the purchase of rider accessories.

 

Pauling says "this is all part of our councils’ efforts to encourage new & existing riders, no matter what licence type or riding experience they have, to book in for our ‘free’ on-road safety courses, to keep themselves safe & ‘upright’, as well as receiving the latest expert learnings about motorcycle safety in general". 


Riders are 27% less likely to be involved in a serious crash after completing these fantastic safety courses.

 

Regional accredited & super experienced instructors meet up with riders in Wairarapa on weekends. Following the Health & Safety briefing and rules for the group ride, riders are ‘commed up' & get real time feedback the journey. Depending on whether it is a Bronze, Silver or Gold course, riders will traverse State Highways & local roads across Wairarapa & beyond. Safe riding techniques including hazard perception, ‘vanishing points’, counter steering & braking, bike maintenance & essential riding gear are all discussed during the day, with a lunch stop giving time for general discussions and for riders to share experiences and learnings.

 

Some local experienced riders complete the Gold course each & every year, as they all say they learn something new with each course to keep themselves & their pillions safe & their rides more enjoyable & less tiring”.

 

Katie Abbott (pictured) holds her learner motorcycle licence and decided to make safety her No.1 priority. Katie said she learnt so much from her ‘Bronze’ ‘ride forever’ course, which is specifically designed for new riders. She is now looking forward to riding the Remutaka Hill road with confidence, and will continue to learn by next attending the Silver and then Gold courses. “I think every rider should complete these vital safety courses…it’s a long day but you learn so much and it’s a lot of fun”.

 

Check out her video HERE

 

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