The Wairarapa Road Safety Council is calling on community members to volunteer as driver mentors, as demand grows for its Community Driver Mentor Programme (CDMP).
The programme supports students from Makoura College, Chanel College, Wairarapa College, and Kuranui College, helping rangatahi gain the supervised driving experience needed to achieve their restricted licence.
Since launching in 2018, the programme has helped more than 600 students successfully gain their restricted licence — a milestone made possible through the support of volunteer mentors.
Wairarapa Road Safety Council Projects Coordinator Holly Hullena says the programme is becoming even more important as proposed changes to New Zealand’s graduated driver licensing system are considered by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
“With potential changes to the licensing system, it’s important we are proactive in supporting our rangatahi to gain their licence,” Hullena says.
“For many young people in Wairarapa, a driver licence is the key to employment, education and independence.”
The programme pairs trained volunteer mentors with learner drivers who need help completing supervised driving hours. Mentors use programme vehicles and spend about one hour per week helping students build driving experience and confidence.
“Mentors aren’t driving instructors,” Hullena explains. “They supervise real driving experience and follow guidance from professional instructors around safe driving attitudes, trip planning and managing more challenging driving conditions.”
The programme is funded through the Community Road Safety Fund, Trust House, Masterton Trust Lands Trust, and the three Wairarapa district councils. Students are referred through their schools and must meet eligibility criteria to participate.
Hullena says the need for mentors is especially strong right now, with more students waiting to begin than there are mentors available.
“We know times are tough for many whānau, and we’ve even seen situations where a young person gaining their licence becomes the first licensed driver in their household,” she says.
“That shows how critical having a licence can be for building a future.”
The Council is encouraging any experienced driver in the community to consider volunteering.
“Our mentors, past and present, are an incredible asset to the Wairarapa. We wouldn’t have achieved more than 600 restricted licence passes without them,” Hullena says.
“Our students’ success is our success, and right now we need more people willing to step forward and help.”
Anyone with a full licence and an hour to spare each week who would like to help a young person gain confidence on the road is encouraged to get in touch.
Email: rsc@wairsc.org.nz Phone: 06 377 1379
CDMP Volunteers