New Plymouth is the 3rd designated Safe Community in New Zealand and number 95 in the world.  ISC Designation Ceremony 27th October 2005. Reaccrediation ceremony 3rd September 2010.

Country: New Zealand
Number of inhabitants: 68,901 (2006)
Programme started year: 2000
International Safe Communities Network Membership: Designation Year: 2005, 2010
Info address on : www.safetaranaki.org.nz

For further information contact:
Teresa Gordon
Safe Community Programme Manager
New Plymouth injury Safe Trust (NPiS)
c/- Public Health Unit
Taranaki Distrtict Health Board
Private Bag 2016
New Plymouth 4620
New Zealand
0064 6 753 7777 ext 8522
Email: npis@tdhb.org.nz
Info address for community as a whole: www.safetaranaki.org.nz

The programme covers the following safety activities:

For the age group

• Children 0 – 14:
  Falls prevention caregiver education group sessions
  Falls prevention caregiver education via home visits, safety checklists and group sessions
  Fall burns and posions educations kit for pre-schools
  Paracetamol Poisoning Project (poisoning prevention via health professional advice to caregivers)
  Kia Tupato Tamariki (Junior Kidsafe Kit) injury prevention resource
  Better Homes Safer Children - safety device installation (ended 2007)
  Marfell Community Safer Homes project - safety device installation (began 2009)
  Child restraint caregiver education group sessions
  Child restraint installation clinics
  Child restraint road side checks
  Child restraint subsidised rental schemes
  Booster seat promotions
  Walking School Buses
  BikeWise (Wild West Bike Fest)
  Cycle training in schools (for all Year 6 students)
  Capable Country Kids school farm safety resource
  From the Horse’s Mouth riding safety resource
  KIDDS (Kids Involved in Driving Down Speed) road safety project
  School Bus Safety Project
  Beach Education Days
  Quality Learn to Swim Programme
  AWE Schools Learn to Swim programme (for all year 5/6 students)
  Surf lifesaving programme
  District Council Playground Audits
  School playground safety audits
  Under 14’s Sports Injury Research project
  Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programme
  Police Education programme in Primary Schools (Cycle safety, Personal Safety)
  Sun Smart in Schools
  Fire Wise safety education in schools
  Schools ‘Reclaiming the Streets’ parties
  Poututangata Wahakura Wananga (reducing infant death)
  Taranaki Kidsafe Week (annual activities on a range of child safety issues)
  St John Bosco School Cycle Safety Project
  RoadSense road safety programme (ended Dec 2009)

• Youth  15  – 24 years:
  Speed reduction education  
  Driver licensing
  Safety belt campaigns
  Think Before You Buy Under 18s Drink Campaign
  Taranaki Secondary Schools Agricultural Safety Challenge
  Health and Safety Induction programme – HSE Centre
  Gateway Students Safety Challenge competition
  Taranaki Skills Bus Tour
  Young Workers seminar
  Youth Workers Safety Knowledge Survey
  Year 10 Ready 2 Drive School Based Expo
  Scooter safety training in schools
  Scooter safety policy development with secondary schools
  Young Drivers Day (Holden Advanced Driver Training Project)
  Marfell Youth Issues Hui
  Western Institute of Technology (WITT) orientation day
  Surf Lifesaving Programme
  Taranaki Motorsport Youth Driver Training
  Community Mural Project
  WAVES Youth Holiday programme
  Trades Apprentice Safety Challenge competition
  Parent Pack re-print and community presentations
  Passport 2 Safety programme
  Police Education programme in Secondary Schools (Drugs & Alcohol)

• Adults 25 – 64 years:
  Slips Trips and Falls awareness programme (e.g. April Falls campaign) Down with Speed campaign
  Safety belt campaigns
  Driver fatigue campaign
  Intersection campaign
  Health and Safety programmes (HSE Centre)
  Business House Safety challenge (HSE Centre)
  Mitre 10 Ladies Day ladder promotion
  Workplace safety workshops (road safety, first aid, fire safety)
  Construction Safety Group workplace safety seminars & training
  Driver Reviver stops
  Wellington School of Medicine Home Injury & Intervention Study
  Home Safety Display & Training Area – HSE Centre
  Cycle Training for adults

• Elderly 65+ years:
  Taranaki Falls Prevention Strategy
  New Plymouth Positive Ageing Strategy
  Modified Tai Chi programme
  Otago Exercise Programme (2002-2009)
  Age Concern home safety checks
  Falls prevention awareness campaigns (e.g. April Falls Day)
  Home-based physiotherapy exercise programme for frail elderly
  Well Aware community based falls prevention education workshops
  Falls prevention information ‘Wellbeing Days’
  Marae-based Wellbeing Days
  Age Concern Home Safety Checks
  Falls network newsletter (‘Keeping Up’)
  Falls Prevention training in rest homes
  Modified Tai Chi Training in rest homes
  Green Prescription programme in rest homes
  Vitamin D in rest homes
  Community based exercise programmes (e.g. Active in Age)
  Age Concern Older Driver Refresher courses
  International Day of the Older Person celebrations

At the following envirnoments:

• Home: 
  Slips, trips and falls prevention
  Child poisoning prevention
  Fire and burns prevention
• Traffic:
  Speed reduction
  Fatigue awareness
  Safety belt and restraint use
  Intersection awareness
  Driver licensing
  Pedestrian safety
  Cycle safety
  Youth Driving Training initiatives
  Road Safety research project in schools
• Occupational:
  

  Health and safety induction and training centre (Taranaki HSE Centre)
  Agricultural safety
  Health and safety leaders group
  HSE Strategic Group common workplace policy development
  Taranaki Business House Challenge
  Trades Apprentice Challenge
  Gateway Students Safety Challenge 
  Taranaki Construction Safety Group education & seminar programme
  Workplace based expo/safety events
  Discomfort, Pain and Injury training
  Interactive resource for metal manufacturing industry
  Working at Heights training
  ATV Safety Project

• School:
  Playground safety
  Road safety
  School Bus Safety
  Water Safety
  Cycle Safety

• Sports:
  Sports Club Assist programme
  Under 14’s sports injury research/seminar
  Sport Taranaki sports injury seminars

• Leisure:
  

  Horse rider education
  DIY falls prevention education
  New Plymouth District Alcohol Strategy and associated projects
  Youth Access to Alcohol (YATA) projects
  Model Walking & Cycling Community projects (e.g. cycle training)
  Sport Injury Scoping Reserach project and follow-up seminars
  District Council playground safety audits
  Learn to Swim Programmes

• Maori:
  Poututangata Research Project
  Poututangata Wahakura Wananga (reducing infant death)
  Marae-Based Kaumata Wellbeing Days
  ASIST Training (targeted to Maori health & community workers)
  Kia Tupato Tamariki (Junior Kidsafe Kit) injury prevention resource
  Tamariki Falls Project

• Alcohol:
  New Plymouth District Alcohol Strategy
  Mellow Yellow door staff programme supported by police
  Alcohol Accord (agreement with licensed premises)
  MoU between Police, Council & Licensed Premises
  Professional training for licensed premises
  Drinksafe Workshops (professional training for licensed sports clubs)
  Sports Club Assist (support with policy development)
  Get Into It Not Out of It campaign
  Parent Pack – tools for the teenage years resource
  High on Life  wallet cards for secondary schools
  Controlled purchase operations
  Shared CCTV monitoring in CBD supported by visible signage
  Partnership approached to delivering alcohol reduction messages
  Promotion of safe drinking messages through sports clubs
  WINZ staff training on alcohol issues
  WINZ In-work support programme for those with alcohol issues
  Council bi-annual information sharing meetings with licensees
  DLA/Police inspections of licensed sports clubs to improve compliance
  Taranaki DHB developed guidelines for alcohol-free youth events
  Taranaki Rugby Footall Union formal promotion of host responsibility through development of alcohol harm reduction policies
  Workplace Common Drug & Alcohol Policy

• CPTED:
  Sir Victor Davies Park Re-design
  Marfell Regeneration Project
  Community Mural Project
  Zero tolerance for graffiti (24 hr response to clean up)
  Mellow Yellow
  CBD CCTV surveillance
  Marfell Urban Renewal Masterplan
  District Bus Stop re-design
  Liquor Bans & Temporary Liquor Control Areas during events
  Big Brothers Big Sisters Taranaki
  Ferndene Off-Road Project
  The Good Neighbour Guide
  Graffiti Free New Plymouth district guide
  Zero Tolerance to Graffiti/Graffiti reporting hotline
  Community Champions Project
  E Watch

Violence prevention:

Taranaki Safe Families Collaborative
White Ribbon Day events
Family Challenge Fun Days
Local media advertising campaign
‘Family Violence is not OK’ Billboards and mural campaign
Family Violence awareness training for service providers
RTLB (Resource Teacher Learning Behaviour) family violence training
Taranaki DHB Family Violence Intervention Programme (FVIP)
Public presentations/seminars on family violence
Parenting workshops
Support/advice to employers
District Council ‘role models against family violence’ initiative
Family Violence adopted as Taranaki Chamber of Commerce ‘cause for the year 2010’
When The Wheels Fall Off (schools anti-violence programme)
WAVES youth development programmes

Suicide prevention:

Suicide Prevention Coordination Group
Taranaki Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) workshops
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) on-line community training programme
Suicide Prevention seminars
Whakawhanaungatanga Self Harm Collaborative project
Waiora Wellness Centre (School based resilience and self esteem programme)
WAVES youth programmes
Young People's Trust Programmes
MATES Outreach Programme (support group for men)
‘Stress in Rural Communities’ roadshow
Rural Support Trust suicide prevention workshops
Suicide Prevention seminars and presenations
Multi-Level Suicide Prevention Intervention Study (with Otago University)
Touched by Suicide facilitated support group

Programmes aiming at “High-risk groups”

• Children 0 – 4 years: home safety, falls prevention
• Youth 15 – 24 years: road safety, alcohol-related harm
• Maori children: 0 – 4 years, home safety
• Maori all ages: road safety, suicide prevention
• Older adults: 65+ years, falls prevention
• Rural: agricultural safety, suicide prevention
• Low income families: home safety, child safety
• Workplace: construction industry, young workers

Surveillance of injuries

In 2006, New Plymouth injury Safe commissioned their second Community Based Injury Needs Assessment. We are committed to repeating this process every five years.

The information in the 2006 Community Based Injury Prevention Needs Assessment Report comes from two main sources:

• Available statistical data on injuries in New Plymouth District
• Consultation with key stakeholders and organisations in New Plymouth District with an interest in injury and injury prevention

The report also examined:

• New Zealand Health Information Service data relating to admissions of New Plymouth District residents to New Zealand public hospitals
• Injury data relating to attendances of New Plymouth District residents at Taranaki Health Emergency Departments
• ACC claims data for New Plymouth District for the most recent financial year (1 July 2000 to 30 June 2006).  It covers all new “entitlements” claims, including weekly compensation, vocational and social rehabilitation, independence allowance, death benefits and elective surgery,
• Injury crash statistics for New Plymouth District, taken from the most recent local Road Safety Report (LTSA 2006),
  Information on reported assaults in New Plymouth District available from local Police crime statistics

The population base for the needs assessment was 69,000 (Provisional Census Count 2006).
There was a total of 149 injury related deaths between 2001 – 2005 (an average of 30 injury deaths per year). The three main causes of injury related death were falls, motor vehicle traffic crashes and suffocation.
There was an average of 1,364 New Plymouth District residents admitted to hospital due to injuries (both intentional and unintentional). 87% of those admissions were for unintentional injuries and 8% were due to intentional injuries.
There were 7,253 Emergency Department (EC) attendances for injury in the year 2005. The ED attendance injury rate for males was 72% higher than for females (age standardised rates). The three leading causes of injuries for which New Plymouth District residents attended ED in 2005 were falls (32% of attendances), blunt trauma (30%) and penetrating trauma (10%).

Since the establishment of the Safe Communities Foundation of New Zealand, a number of useful resources have become available. This includes the New Plymouth Profile on Injury Data Report which provides our community with detailed injury data on an annual basis to allow us to track death and injury rates in between each Needs Assessment.

In the five year period 2003 – 2007 there were a total of 4,578 hospitalisation discharges, an average of 915 per year. (Note – this figure includes discharges from hospital where the principal diagnosis is an injury, but does not include readmissions for the same incident, day patients or patients discharged dead).

In 2009 the Kidsafe Taranaki Trust produced the fourth in a series of three-yearly reports on paediatric admissions for unintentional injury.  These reports are undertaken by medical students on placements at Taranaki District Health Board and provide a useful tool for monitoring and priority setting for local child injury prevention projects.

Publications

• New Plymouth District 2006 Community Injury Prevention Needs Assessment, Community Injury Prevention in the New Plymouth District – Assessing the Needs, Research and Evaluation Services Ltd. (New Plymouth) in association with HealthSearch Ltd. (Auckland), 2006.
• Taranaki Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment 2008, New Plymouth injury Safe Trust (New Plymouth), 2008.
• Health and Safety Knowledge of Young Workers – A study of school aged, part-time workers in the Taranaki region, Department of Labour (Taranaki), October 2007.
• All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety Awareness Project, Department of Labour Health & Safety Service (Taranaki), 2010
• Future Marfell – Locals Making Good Things Happen, New Plymouth District Council/Ministry of Justice, 2010
• Waitara Community Profile, New Plymouth District Council, 2010
• Sir Victor Davies Park New Plymouth – CPTED Assessment and Recommended Safety Improvement Plan, STOKs Ltd., 2006
• New Plymouth District Council Playground Audit Report, Recreation Services, Auckland, February 2007
• New Plymouth District Alcohol Strategy, New Plymouth District Council/New Plymouth Alcohol Strategy Group, 2009
• New Plymouth Safe & Secure Community Safety Strategy, New Plymouth District Council/Safe Community Strategy Group, 2010
• Members of our community safety coalition have participated in the last three IPNANZ conferences (2007, 2009) presenting a total of seven papers  as well as poster papers and displays highlighting some of our projects. 
• New Plymouth injury Safe presented two papers and a poster presentation at the 17^th International Safe Communities Conference in Christchurch (2008).
• Our project coalitions, including Kidsafe Taranaki, YATA, New Plymouth District Alcohol Strategy Group, New Plymouth and Taranaki Safe Families Trust continue to present at numerous forums in Taranaki and New Zealand as well as disseminating  information about projects through various newsletters and on the internet.

Produced information material, pamphlets:  

• Parent Pack – Tools for the Teenage Years
• New Plymouth District 2006 Injury Prevention Needs Assessment Summary Report
• Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment 2008 Summary Report
• NPiS Community Update newsletter (monthly)
• Keeping Up Falls Prevention Network newsletter (quarterly)
• NPiS Strategic Plan 2008-11 (full report)
• NPiS Strategic Plan 2008-11 (Summary document)
• Kidsafe Taranaki Trust – Working to keep Taranaki kids safe from injury (information leaflet)
• Capable Country Kids – rural safety resource
• Kia Tupato Tamariki (Junior Kidsafe Kit) injury prevention resource 
• The Good Neighbour Guide (preventing and managing neighbourhood disputes)
• Graffiti Free New Plymouth Guide
  

Staff

The application for re-accreditation as an International Safe Community has been co-ordinated by New Plymouth injury Safe Trust (NPiS). NPiS comprises representatives of New Plymouth District Council, Taranaki District Health Board (TDHB), New Plymouth Police, Tui Ora Ltd. Maori Development Organisation, Kidsafe Taranaki Trust, Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), Department of Labour, NZ Fire Service and the three regional Primary Health Organisations (Peak Health Taranaki, Hauora Taranaki PHO and Te Tihi Hauora O Taranaki).

Personnel resourcing for delivery of injury prevention projects involves a mix of dedicated staff, contracted providers and in-kind contributions from partner organisations and from within the community who contribute to projects despite injury prevention not being their core business.

There are staff equivalent to 3.3 FTE dedicated to injury prevention in New Plymouth/Taranaki. These staff are based in ACC (2.0), the Health Promotion Unit (0.5) and within New Plymouth injury Safe Trust itself (0.8). The Health Promotion Unit staff and ACC staff have a regional role covering New Plymouth, Stratford and South Taranaki District Council areas. The NPiS Trust programme manager covers New Plymouth District only. A component of Police hours is allocated to road safety. A full-time road safety co-ordinator position for Taranaki is funded by New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and there are two Fire Safety Officers operating in the region.

In addition to these positions, agencies such as Plunket integrate some injury prevention into their work as do other teams within Public Health, such as the programme to reduce alcohol related harm and the health promoting schools team.  A component of the work undertaken by the Department of Labour, Occupational Safety and Health is preventative. In the area of family violence, there are 3 full time family violence co-ordinators working within the following agencies - New Plymouth Police, Taranaki District Health Board (Family Violence Intervention Programme) and the Taranaki Safer Families Trust. In the area of suicide prevention, Taranaki District Health Board have provided some dedicated hours to the Quality & Risk Co-ordinator Mental Health Services to oversee the Whakawhanaungatanga self harm collaborative programme. The New Plymouth District Council provide 0.5FTE to co-ordinate Ministry of Justice crime prevention projects within their Community Development Team. Additional services are contracted in as required (for example, external consultants to carry our CPTED assessments, safety audits and other similar work).

Awards:

• SCFNZ/ACC Community Safety & Injury Prevention Awards 2006:
  New Plymouth injury Safe Trust – Winner Category 3
  Shell Todd Oil Services – Winner Category 4
  New Plymouth District Council – Highly Commended
  Youth Access to Alcohol (YATA) – Highly Commended
• SCFNZ/ACC Community Safety & Injury Prevention Awards 2007:
  New Plymouth injury Safe Trust – Highly Commended Category 3
  Rhapsody Rest Home Falls Prevention Project - Finalist
• SCFNZ/ACC Community Safety & Injury Prevention Awards 2008:
  New Plymouth injury Safe Trust Falls Prevention Strategy – Winner Category 3
• Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand: Outstanding Regional Safe Community Co-ordinator Award 2008
• Road Safety Trust Innovation & Achievement Awards 2008: Kids Involved in Driving Down Speed (KIDDS) Project – Winner Education Category
• Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) ‘Joined Up Local Government Award’ 2009: New Plymouth District Alcohol Strategy – Winner

International Commitments:

Study visits:

• Swedish Rescue Services Agency, November 2005
  

Participation in Safe Community conferences:

• 17^th International Safe Communities Conference, Christchurch, September 2008
• 10^th World Conference on Injury Promotion and Safety Promotion, London, September 2010 (2 abstracts accepted)
  

Hosting Safe Community Conferences: None

Hosting Travelling Seminars:

• Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand, Regional Young Workers Seminar, March 2008
• Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand/Alcohol Advisory Council, Regional Alcohol Seminar, February 2009

Other:

• Input into presentation at 8^th Australian National Injury Prevention & Control Conference, Sydney Australia. September, 2006
• Injury Prevention Network Aotearoa New Zealand Conference, Wellington, November 2005
• Injury Prevention Network Aotearoa New Zealand Conference, Napier, November 2007
• Injury Prevention Network Aotearoa New Zealand Conference, Auckland, November 2009
• Marfell Urban Re-design project accepted for Public Health Association Conference, Auckland, September 2010
• Abstract submitted for ANZ Falls Prevention Conference, Dunedin, November 2010
• Attendance and presentation at annual SCFNZ networking events
• Contribution to the WHO Collaborating Centre on Community Safety Promotion Safe Community Monthly Newsletter