Wellington City Council and NZ Police have organised an Orange Day celebration on Friday 26 August 2016 to thank volunteer school patrollers who help keep the roads around their schools safe for their fellow students.
More than 1,150 road patrollers from Wellington’s primary schools will march through the city at 10am in the annual Orange Day street parade. The patrollers will gather outside Parliament before parading along Lambton Quay and Willis Street to Civic Square.
Wellington City Council will host a celebration event at the Michael Fowler Centre and prizes will be awarded for the best road patrol of the year, best school presence, and the best banners in the parade.
Councillor Andy Foster, Chair of the City Council’s Transport and Urban Development Committee, says providing safe environments for active travel like walking and cycling are priorities for the Council.
“These volunteer school patrollers stand at their school crossings twice a day without fail, in rain, wind and shine, to help keep the roads around their schools safe for their school mates.
“The students will be competing for a prize for the best presence in the parade, chants and banners, so expect lots of noise and lots of orange as they go by. It is always a really happy and enthusiastic event, and a lot of fun for everyone involved and watching.
“I particularly want to thank our NZ Police community team for their support of school patrols including training students, and for being part of Orange Day with us.
Wellington School Community Officer Constable Aaron Dann, who trains school patrols, says patrollers do a vitally important job for their schools and communities by improving safety during the busiest times on the roads.
"These kids with the help of teachers and parents are out there volunteering their time to help make Wellington’s roads safer for their mates, and this parade is about celebrating their commitment and thanking all of them for their efforts.
“It’s also a reminder to us to be extra safe when driving and parking near schools, and to follow the directions of the school road patrollers.”
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says: “Wellington is one of the world’s most walkable cities. Active travel improves health, observation and readiness to learn. Thanks to our young patrollers!”
“We invite all Wellingtonians to be part of recognising the work these students do throughout the year, by coming down to Lambton Quay or Willis Street and cheering them along.”
The march will start at 10am, with traffic delays expected along this route until about 10.45am due to a rolling road closure for the event.
Following the parade the banners will be on display in the Council’s main foyer, accessible from Wakefield Street and Civic Square.
The Orange Day celebration is coordinated by Wellington City Council and NZ Police, and is supported by PAK'nSAVE Kilbirnie.