Tragic Loss on Masters Road - Time for a Proactive Approach to Safety

Our community is grieving following the tragic accident on Masters Road in Waiuku where three lives were lost. My thoughts are first and foremost with the families and friends of those who have died, and also with the emergency services and first responders who attended. As someone who responds to emergencies like this, I know how deeply these incidents affect everyone involved.

For years, locals have raised concerns about this stretch of the road - known to many as “the Cuttings” or “the Rollercoaster.” Its dangers are well known, yet meaningful changes have not been made. Sadly, this is not the first time we’ve seen a serious crash here, and unless something changes, it won’t be the last.

It’s time for Waikato District Council, Auckland Council, and all local government bodies responsible for our roads, to take a proactive rather than reactive approach to road safety. Too often, serious action only happens after lives are lost - we saw it with the safety camera installed near Glenbrook Station Road after the death of young Waiuku local, Ruby-Jean Steele, and now we’re here again. We cannot keep waiting for tragedies to spur change.

Practical safety improvements should be acted on as soon as concerns are raised, not after lives are lost. Our community has been calling for this for years, and it’s time those calls were taken seriously.

As someone standing for Franklin Local Board, I will continue to push for a proactive, not reactive approach to safety across our roads. We owe it to those we’ve lost, and to every person who travels on our roads, to do better.