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Air New Zealand has revealed the winners of its Schools for Safety program, an inspiring nationwide initiative encouraging Kiwi tamariki to think creatively about safety.
Five schools have each earned $10,000 grants to help their students achieve their dreams.
After reviewing more than 40 submissions from schools across Aotearoa, the following schools have been recognised for their creative safety-themed entries:
Rotokawa School
Clyde School
Rotorua Primary School
Chertsey School
Tikorangi School
Each of these schools took a unique and imaginative approach to crafting their safety videos. Chertsey School’s submission included tree climbing, Clyde School featured secret agents preparing for a visit from the “Safety Inspector,” and Rotokawa School integrated te reo Māori into their ‘Tumeke!’ safety video. Rotorua Primary School brought safety to life through sport and rugby, while Tikorangi School focused on rural safety, complete with road rules for cows and sheep.
Dame Valerie Adams, who served as the competition’s lead judge, praised the creativity of the entries.
She says “Schools for Safety was all about giving Kiwi kids the chance to be creative and showcase their school’s safety initiatives. There were so many incredible entries. I was fascinated and intrigued by the imagination of our tamariki.”
“Getting down to a shortlist was tough! I was so impressed by how language and culture were included in so many of the videos. The winners stood out for their unique approach to safety, excellent delivery, and creativity. Congratulations to the five deserving schools selected – tino pai rawa atu!”
Air New Zealand chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer Kiri Hannifin highlighted the ingenuity and talent displayed by the young participants.
“We received more than 40 entries from schools large and small across Aotearoa – an incredible volume and all at such a high calibre, which made our job exceptionally challenging. Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Air New Zealand, so it’s wonderful to see Kiwi schools place just as much importance on keeping our tamariki safe.”
“I was blown away by the quality of the videos – I think we might even have some future safety stars in the making! Congratulations to each and every school that participated for their remarkable efforts and creativity. We can’t wait to see how the recipients use their grants to inspire and educate their students.”
Kiri also shared additional insights about the initiative’s connection to Air New Zealand’s wider focus on safety videos.
“We’re always looking for innovative and engaging ways to connect with our audience through our safety videos. The creativity and talent showcased by Kiwi kids in their interpretations of a safety video have truly inspired us. Each school’s unique approach brought fresh perspectives and incredible energy.”
She says “Our most recent safety video, released in November 2024, featured dozens of Kiwi kids taking on Steven Adams in a game of basketball. As we look ahead to our next safety video, we’re on the lookout for fresh ideas to bring it to life – and these tamariki have certainly sparked plenty of inspiration for our team to consider!”
