Year 12 RYDA Day – My Life, My Choices
Our Year 12 students recently participated in the RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) programme, delivered by Road Safety Education (South Island). This highly regarded initiative, run across both Australia and New Zealand, continues to set the benchmark for driver and passenger education.
From the moment the day began, the organisation and presentation were outstanding. Students moved seamlessly through six engaging workshops, each carefully structured and professionally delivered by a collaborative team of driver educators, community road safety groups, volunteers, and first responders — including Police. A special acknowledgement goes to Police Officer Emma Milburn and the many passionate presenters whose expertise and authenticity made a lasting impression
This year’s theme, “My Life, My Choices,” was brought to life through refreshed visual resources and updated content that felt current, relevant, and impactful. The programme’s strength lies in its ability to connect real-world decision-making with learning from everyday subjects such as Maths and Physics. The statistical, evidence-based approach — combined with honest engagement around teenage perspectives — created powerful opportunities for deep reflection.
One of the standout workshops focused on choosing “The Right Car” for young drivers, particularly during the highest-risk period of their driving journey — their early years on the road. Students explored how vehicle safety ratings directly impact outcomes in crashes. This is an important message for whānau as well: when considering a first vehicle, safety should always come before cost or convenience. Families are strongly encouraged to check vehicle safety ratings and features using the official website: https://rightcar.
Choosing an older, low-rated vehicle “because they’ll probably wreck it anyway” significantly increases the risk of serious harm. Vehicles with a 1–3 star safety rating offer far less protection, and the consequences can be life-changing.
Students who completed all six workshops and their accompanying workbooks have now graduated from the programme and will receive a certificate. This provides tangible evidence — for both students and parents — of their growing awareness of the risks and responsibilities involved in being both a driver and a passenger.
This marks the fifth year our students have benefited from this exceptional programme. We extend our sincere thanks to Rotary International, local volunteers, Police, the Methven Resort Hotel conference venue, and Road Safety Education (South Island) for their continued commitment to making this experience possible. Through significant fundraising and community support, the programme — valued at over $50 per student — is provided free of charge.
2026 Year 12 students lived up to the School's reputation; Liona Stanicich (South Island Coordinator RSE) wrote: "Your students are amazing and you should be very proud of the way they presented themselves yesterday."
RYDA continues to be a powerful, life-changing learning experience — one that equips our young people with the knowledge, awareness, and decision-making skills to keep themselves and others safe on the road.
Ms Lisa Ponweiser
Year 12 Dean
