Wrapping up term one with the Delivery Team

2023 has gotten off to a great but busy start, and it has been amazing to begin the year with 5 Delivery Leads all around Aotearoa, supporting and empowering young people to be leaders in the road safety space. To finish off term one, we thought we do a quick check-in with the Delivery Team and see how term one has been for them!

There’s been extreme weather events, strikes and changing plans, but thankfully no covid impacting our delivery travel this term. So in what feels like the first time in a while, we’ve had workshops and school visits up and down the country, and it’s exciting! Check out the team’s highlights, what they learnt and what they are looking forward to next term.

What’s been a term one highlight? 

Sandra: “Seeing how possible it is to adapt to challenging times. We have had floods, cyclones and teacher strikes to combat but managed to complete multiple workshops, travel up North and recruit a large group of people for conference who are willing and eager to get going.”

Bobbi: “Doing term 1 workshops, creating new connections with community partners and meeting new enthusiastic students!” 

Mark: “Getting on the road is always a great experience for me so naturally term 1 workshops were my highlight! Getting out and meeting passionate young people who want to make a difference is always so cool! I also met quite a few new students as well, it was exciting to tell them all about Kaitiaki o Ara and how they can get involved. Watching our National and Regional Leaders share their experiences and run icebreakers was also really cool to see!”

Lydia: “It’s a tie between running workshops and also getting to visit new schools that I have not previously gotten into! Meeting inspiring rangatahi is always so great, and also seeing how many great community partners we have also working towards the same cause is awesome.”

Renee: “Highlights for me this term was being able to get around and meet some of Kaitiaki o Ara groups from Whitianga/Mercury Bay, through to Morrinsville, Cambridge, Tauranga, and then to Gisborne. It was extra special to work with Travel Safe in Tauranga and do our Regional Workshop with students from all around Tauranga.” 

Something you learnt this term? 

Sandra: “That adapting to trying times is not just a one-off thing. It is a revolving door that requires constant oiling to keep things moving :-)” 

Bobbi: “Make sure I double and triple check which school I'm going to before putting it into google maps, I won't do that again haha.” 

Mark: “Percy Spencer invented the first microwave oven after World War II from radar technology developed during the war. Named the "Radarange", it was first sold in 1946. I found this out as I was microwaving my dinner in my motel room in Invercargill after the term 1 workshop. I got curious as to who invented this amazing invention that we all take for granted these days!”

Lydia: “That I love a straight-up teacher contact who is just like “I’m busy this term but let’s get things going in term 2” and then they put things in place for that to happen. So good, and helpful for me to do my job.”

Renee: “Something I've learnt this term is that it doesn't matter how prepared you think you might be there could always be hiccups along the way. This term we had a couple of changes along the way, but with the help of great teachers and awesome students we persevered and had some amazing workshops.” 

One thing you are looking forward to for term two? 

Sandra: “Seeing how the schools from conference really kick start their year and starting my new role working with at-risk youth”

Bobbi: “Seeing all the students fired up from conference, applying what they've learnt and taking action.” 

Mark: “I'm really excited to see all of the groups I met with this term building momentum and getting some cool activities happening! I'm also very excited to support them to achieve everything they want to achieve.” 

Lydia: “Building on the connections and good things that started with my students in term one, and launching applications for our National and Regional Leadership Programmes, and Māori Advisory Rōpū!” 

Renee: I’m looking forward to the plans our Kaitiaki o Ara students have developed and delivering them to their peers. Last but not least is to hopefully be able to catch up with the rest of our Kaitiaki o Ara whānau that have been affected by the weather this Summer.