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The holiday season is almost upon us and I’m sure you are all looking forward to the break. Our annual shutdown is one of the things I love most about living in New Zealand, a time to relax, recharge and spend time at our favourite holiday spots, or simply unwind at home.
But it also has a darker side: the holiday road toll. When I worked as a journalist on a national newspaper, one of the tasks I dreaded was monitoring emergency services over public holidays. At times it felt as though every hour brought news of another crash. It affected me to such an extent that I am still reluctant to travel on public holidays.
Fortunately, New Zealand’s road toll has fallen from its high of 843 in 1973, although it has risen from a low of 252 in 2013. Last year the annual toll was 341, while the holiday road toll for 2024/2025 was 15, markedly lower than the 22 recorded in 2023/2024.
Yet numbers never capture the heartache behind them. A family sets out for a beach camping trip, ready for fun, only for their journey to end in a mangled wreck on the highway. Many of us have felt that disbelief while sitting in slow holiday traffic or in a passing lane, watching someone roar past only to squeeze in at the last moment, or overtake on a blind corner.
Your heart is in your throat as you watch, hoping it won’t end in disaster. But when it does, the consequences can shape lives for years. It’s even more frustrating when you see the same driver further down the road and wonder why they were in such a hurry, having gained only a few minutes at most.
Having spent time in an emergency room with someone in the aftermath of a serious crash, it’s not an experience I would wish on anyone.
Nobody’s life or future is worth a few minutes saved by reckless driving. We want everyone to return safely home this summer, enjoying life on our beautiful Hibiscus Coast.
This also marks my first full year as editor, and our team wants to thank you for your support of Hibiscus Matters. Sadly, print is not as valued as it once was, but it still plays a vital role in sharing information and stories within our communities. Over the past year, I have met so many wonderful people, and it means a great deal that you choose to share your stories with us.
Have a happy, safe and wonderful Christmas and New Year, and we look forward to reconnecting with you in 2026. Our first issue will be out on January 12, so make sure to keep an eye out for it, and and a huge thanks to the kind people who supported our Christmas appeal, your generosity will help make a difference in someone’s life this Christmas.
Adrienne Kohler, Editor
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