24 November 2025
Southland is a little bit brighter this Christmas as school kids deck their wheels with donated bike lights, thanks to an Automobile Association (AA) safety initiative.
In a collaborative effort involving AA District Councils, Police, local council staff, and other businesses, 300 bike light sets (1 front + 1 rear light) were handed out to Southland communities.
AA Canterbury/West Coast Chairman, John Skevington, says once the next batch of lights are distributed, the Be Safe Be Seen project will have donated over 4000 bike lights in total around New Zealand since it kicked off in 2023.
Laura Dowling from Active Southland, who enabled the latest distribution to Southland schools, expressed her gratitude for the team behind the project.
“We’ve already had some great feedback on the light delivery; everyone was very impressed with the quality and our addition of hi-vis straps to make the kids even more visible out on their bikes. Being rechargeable is a huge bonus too.
“We’re looking forward to continuing to work with John and the AA to share more free bike lights in the future, keeping our kids safe and brightening our community even more – Santa will get a good view of Southland this year!”
The free bike light initiative stemmed from concerns that children are not adequately visible while cycling to and from school.
“Cyclists can see cars, but cars don’t always see cyclists – especially school kids on their smaller bikes. A simple light can have a big impact on visibility,” says John.
“Encouraging kids to use bike lights now will hopefully see them continue these easy safety habits well into the future.”
AA District Councils in Canterbury, Otago, Southern Lakes and Southland have all contributed to the free bike light project, with growth to new regions expected in the years to come.
Image #1: Children from Te Kura O Whare-Rā/Fernworth Primary School in Invercargill decked out with their bike lights and hi-vis straps (Oct 2025)
