Improving safety and accessibility opposite Kaipara College in Rautawhiri Road, Helensville

About the project

We’re installing a new footpath opposite Kaipara College to improve walking safety along Rautawhiri Road in Helensville.

A missing footpath link on the southern side of the road currently makes walking difficult, particularly in wet weather. The new footpath will provide a safer, more accessible route between the school and the residential area near Rautawhiri Park for students and the wider community.

This project is the second of three planned footpath sections along Rautawhiri Road, creating a safer and more reliable year‑round walking connection.

Thanks to the Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate Programme, we’re able to deliver more footpaths in local communities like yours, helping people, especially school children, get around safely and easily.

The changes we’re making

• Install a new footpath from outside #75 Rautawhiri Road, opposite the school, extending up to where the footpath ends at the corner of Mahi Road
• Install new pram ramps with tactile pavers in one corner of Rautawhiri Road and Awaroa Road to make it safer and more convenient for people with mobility needs and those pushing prams or strollers to cross the road. Tactile pavers are yellow guidance markers to assist vision impaired cross the road.
• Reinstate grass berms where the new footpath will be installed
• Paint no stopping at all times (broken yellow lines) at the intersection of Rautawhiri Road and Awaroa Road. This is to improve visibility near the pram crossing, providing motorists with a clear, unobstructed view and helping ensure people walking and crossing are easily seen.
• Paint additional broken yellow lines outside #111 Rautawhiri Road to improve visibility for residents exiting their driveway

Benefits to your community:

• Footpaths make it safer for the community by separating motorists and traffic from people on foot. 
• Well-maintained footpaths are safer for people, especially tamariki, who walk and ride their bikes and scooters, reducing the risk of being hurt or injured.  
• More footpaths make it easier and stress-free for the community to move around the neighbourhood, offering better connections to schools, parks, public transport and other local amenities.  
• Walking and cycling are good for the environment and good for your health. It helps reduce reliance on cars for local trips, decreasing traffic congestion and reducing our carbon emissions. 

• We will be in touch with local residents and businesses prior to any work taking place.
• Any change to the plan will be updated on our website.

How to contact us

If you'd like to speak to someone about our plans, please email us at ATengagement@at.govt.nz by 9 March 2026.

Please include your email address in your comment, if you'd like us to reply back to you.

Feel free to share your local insights or if there's anything we've missed, by clicking our comment box below.