New Zealand

Safe Kids New Zealand/Safekids New Zealand is a service of Starship Children’s Hospital, established in the early 1990s by Starship Children’s Health Trauma Service to help reduce the high rate of unintentional injury to children. Safekids New Zealand became a member of Safe Kids Worldwide in 2001.

Coalitions are the cornerstone of Safekids New Zealand’s injury prevention campaign. There are more than 60 Safekids coalitions across New Zealand that are active in child injury prevention initiatives covering risk areas at home, on the road and at play.

Highlights

Driveway Run-Over Injury Prevention National Road Show

The 2011 National Driveway Run-Over Injury Prevention Campaign is continuing.  More than 30 regional workshops have been held in key areas in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.  The campaign’s goal is to have a positive effect in reducing deaths and injuries from driveway run-overs. 

Safekids New Zealand Director Ann Weaver explains that the campaign workshops provide “an opportunity for child injury prevention practitioners, agencies, community groups, volunteer services and organizations to receive up-to-date information and new resources on this injury issue. Attendees also have an opportunity to network across sectors, engage in planning activities, and develop joint strategies for action in their local community."

One of the highlights from the workshops was a presentation on “Low-Speed Run-Overs” by the Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee (CYMRC) Chair Dr. Nick Baker. CYMRC is a ministerial committee appointed by the New Zealand Ministry of Health that aims to collect a standard set of information for every New Zealand child and youth who die.  The Safekids campaign encourages communities to take up this challenge and make a difference in their own areas.

This public awareness campaign also involves radio ads, media campaigns and regional and community events throughout the year.  For more information about the Safekids New Zealand Campaign on Driveway Run-Over Injury, visit the campaign page.

Latest Safekids News Out

Safekids News is the quarterly newsletter of Safekids New Zealand, focusing on issues and events on unintentional child injury prevention in New Zealand. In the latest edition of Safekids News

• Driveway run overs: Changing the Game
• Safekids Campaign 2011 Workshops
• Road User Rule changes that affect schools 
• Rural Women NZ: Time for 20kmh school bus signs
• Starship Trauma Update: Small wheeled object related injuries
• New Safekids Driveway Run Over Ads
• Coalition Events
• Safety 2012 Updates
• Info Centre Update: Recent additions

Safekids News is read by Community leaders and decision makers, those working in injury prevention, health promotion and/or involved in child health, the Local Government, Educators and child care services, Well Child Providers, and anyone with an interest in keeping kids safe. Read the latest edition.