Safer travel to and from school is the focus of a brand new joint initiative in Wanaka, a first of its kind in the Queenstown Lakes District. 

QLDC, Wanaka Primary School and Wanaka Police are working together to reduce congestion and improve safety for kids travelling to and from Wanaka Primary. 

QLDC School Travel Plan Coordinator Kirsty Barr says, “parents can be in a rush, particularly in the afternoons when picking up and want to get as close to the gate as possible.  This can cause congestion and create safety issues for children.”

The project introduces a new system in the ‘Pick up/Drop off’ area at the school and Safe Meet Spots for older students to walk to independently to meet parents after school.   Fun activities and incentives to encourage active transport such as walking or biking to school will be in place later in term 1.

Staff will supervise children in the Pick up Drop off area every afternoon until 3.15pm which will be a no parking zone.  Parents are asked to stay in their vehicles when picking up or dropping off their children .     

“At the start of term one, school will send information to every family explaining the changes and how to use them.  Then we’ll be encouraging parents to have more conversations about using different pick up options with their kids and how to safely get to and from school,” Ms Barr said.  “We’ll also be putting up new signage and running a range of activities for the kids during Term One to help everyone understand the safety message.”