Mount Maunganui turned a brilliant shade of orange yesterday as more than 1,000 students from 30 Tauranga and Western Bay primary and intermediate schools joined the annual Traffic Management New Zealand (TMNZ) Orange Walk – the largest turnout in the event’s 19-year history.

The Orange Walk is a collaborative event organised by Travel Safe on behalf of Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council, in partnership with NZ Police and sponsored by TMNZ. It celebrates the commitment of student volunteers who promote safe travel to and from school. This year’s participants included Travel Safe and Travel Smart students, bus monitors, and road patrollers who have worked tirelessly to keep their peers safe.

Tauranga City Council Mayor Mahé Drysdale applauded all the hard work that the children and volunteers do.

“This is our biggest Orange Walk yet, and it’s incredible to see so many young people leading the way on road safety. The energy and commitment from schools, families, councils, TMNZ, and police show how powerful community collaboration can be,” says Mahé.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Road Safety Engineer Queenie Cao added: “The Orange Walk is a chance to celebrate the students, parents and teachers who help keep children safe on their way to and from school. With a mix of rural and urban schools in our District — some with marked crossings and many without — their support is vital. This event is all about cheering them on and recognising their mahi.”

After a few words from Mahé, the parade set off from Coronation Park at 9:30 a.m., with cheering families, shoppers, and local businesses lining Maunganui Road as students marched proudly with vibrant banners around the Pacific Avenue roundabout and back.

Police later awarded trophies for the most creative and impactful banners:

• Mount Maunganui Intermediate School won the Year 7/8 Road Safety category with their banner ‘Small footprint, big impact’
• Rangiuru School won the Year 7/8 Active Travel category with their banner ‘Drive safe like your tamariki live here’
• Suzanne Aubert Catholic School took out the Year 5/6 Road Safety category with their banner 'Don’t text or you’ll be next’
• Greenpark School claimed the Year 5/6 Active Travel award for ‘Walking school bus’
• Welcome Bay School, Pāpāmoa Primary School and Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa all achieved a highly commended for their banners.

The students have been working hard on their banners since Term 3, and the judging was completed by Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, New Zealand Police and Aurecon.

The celebration wrapped up at Baywave, where students cooled off with a swim and enjoyed a BBQ hosted by the police.

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