Moerewa draws line on road safety

Senior Constable Warren Bunn of the Serious Crash Unit maps out the site of a fatal crash in Moerewa. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A spate of fatal crashes in a small Northland town has spurred community action.

Everyone from the mayor to primary school students have come together in Moerewa to address the hurtling logging trucks, police chases, wayward motorbikes and speedsters that plague the town.

Far North District councillor Kelly Stratford said the community is in a state of mourning following several serious and fatal crashes in the area.

On July 11, a 30-year-old motorcyclist who police said was not wearing a helmet died after he crashed a friend's motorcycle into a fencepost.

Ten days later an ambulance crash in the town saw the patient on board die, while several days before a woman plunged 100 metres down a bank after her car left the road on Turntable Hill leading into the township. She was unharmed.

In March, two women were thrown from their car after crashing on Otiria Rd. One, a 34-year-old, died in hospital.

Ms Stratford said a meeting at the end of July saw police, councillors, school children and community members discuss the town's road toll.

"Moerewa is resilient, they're now saying enough is enough. They don't like fences crashed into, they want their children to feel safe. At the moment you're always a little bit afraid that some lunatic is going to come barreling down the road."

Ms Stratford said the next meeting, on August 13, 6pm, at Moerewa Youth Centre, would be more solution-focused.

Meeting facilitator and youth worker Shadey Pihema said students from Pakaraka School had read letters to council, pleading for something to be done about dangerous roads.

"Some had whanau that had died recently and they talked about how it had affected their class and school," Ms Pihema said. "It was really pulling on the heart strings. It made it real."

Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan said the community was keen to change views around speeding and drink driving. Road construction, speed bumps and better signage were also considerations, he said.

"Generally, it's about social change and everyone coming together for a common purpose," Mr McLellan said.