Car Parking and Road Patrol – important updates

Due to some recent traffic incidents and an assessment of the road patrol survey, we are making some changes to our onsite car parking system both before and after school to encourage better traffic flow and student safety

Dear Parents/Caregivers

In light of some recent near misses, parent emails and the Road Patrol Survey results, we are continuing to make adjustments to make our school and the roads around us as safe as possible for all students.

Please be assured that these changes are not intended to inconvenience parents. Our primary concern is the safety of students as they arrive and leave each day.

We recognise that improved roading infrastructure would make this easier for everyone, and we are currently in conversation with the Palmerston North City Council regarding these concerns — including the helpful feedback many of you provided in the recent survey.

Please take note of the following updates to our traffic and parking procedures, which are being made with the safety of our students, families, and staff in mind:

The Roberts Line carpark will now be closed once full and monitored by a staff member both before school (8:30–9:00am) and after school (2:45–3:15pm).
We kindly ask that you do not park or wait behind parked cars in the carpark. This practice creates a safety risk and we may ask you to move on if this occurs.
When exiting the Roberts Line carpark, please turn LEFT ONLY. Turning right or attempting to drive straight across to Woolworths is not permitted, as we’ve observed several near misses — particularly involving oncoming trucks.
Once the Roberts Line carpark is closed, we ask that you find a legal park either along the street or use the Woolworths carpark and walk across the kea crossing to collect your child. Woolworths has kindly granted us permission to use their carpark, provided vehicles are not left there for extended periods.
Please do not stop on the road to wait for the carpark to reopen, as this disrupts traffic flow and can quickly create congestion. A reminder also that all Aroha students must be picked up from outside their classroom by a parent or caregiver.
The Mihaere Drive carpark morning closure will now be between 8:25am -9.00am (previously reopened at 8.40am). The afternoon closure remains 2:45–3:15pm.
Finally, a gentle reminder not to use the Toyota driveway on Mihaere Drive to turn around or to park across their entrance or on the berm. This applies whether you are staying in your vehicle or stepping away from it.