Students across Tauranga and the Western Bay got a surprise visit from the Travel Safe team to announce they were winners of the 2026 ‘Design Your Own Helmet’ competition.

The annual competition attracted nearly 900 entries from 53 schools, with students creating colourful and imaginative helmet designs while learning about cycle safety and the importance of protecting their heads while on the road.

Winning students were given a surprise when Travel Safe staff arrived unannounced at their classrooms carrying real helmets featuring the students’ own artwork brought to life.

Ethan Fourie from Ōtūmoetai Primary School won the Year 1 and 2 category of the 2026 ‘Design Your Own Helmet’ competition. Photo / Supplied

Matua School principal Marcus Norrish said the reveal created plenty of excitement among the students.

“The kids absolutely love this competition and get really excited about taking part,” he said.

“Seeing the winning helmet revealed in class was an incredible surprise. Experiences like this really encourage other students to get involved, and I’m confident we’ll see even more entries next year.”

The winning helmets for the 2026 ‘Design Your Own Helmet’ competition. Photo/Supplied

The winners for the 2026 Design Your Own Helmet are Ōtūmoetai Primary School pupil Ethan Fourie (Year 1-2), Matua School pupil Laura Stevenson (Year 3-4), Te Puna School pupil Charlie (Year 5-6), Ōtūmoetai Intermediate student Anezka Andel (Year 7-8), Bethlehem College student Gabriel (Year 9-13), and Ōtūmoetai Intermediate teacher Sarah Hetherington (teacher category)

Matua-Ōtūmoetai ward councillor Glen Crowther said the annual competition is a great way to reinforce a critical safety message.

Anezka Andel from Ōtūmoetai Intermediate won the Year 7 and 8 category of the 2026 ‘Design Your Own Helmet’ competition. Photo / Supplied

“It’s fantastic to see students engaging so strongly with such an important road safety message,” Crowther said.

“Wearing a helmet is one of the simplest actions we can take to keep ourselves safe. Whether you’re riding to school, the park or a friend’s house, a helmet can seriously reduce the risk of life-changing injury or worse.

“It’s something everyone should be doing, every ride, every time.”

Travel Safe, which delivers road safety education across Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, said the initiative helps keep helmet safety front of mind for students, schools and families.

The competition will return in October.