Today, as New Zealand marks Pink Shirt Day, RTL reaffirms our commitment to creating environments where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected. While Pink Shirt Day began as a response to a student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt, its message extends to all forms of bullying across our society.

At RTL, we’re particularly concerned about a form of bullying that often goes unnoticed and unaddressed – the harassment and mistreatment of our road workers. Every day, these essential workers face verbal abuse, aggressive driving behaviours, and public hostility while simply doing their job of keeping our roads safe.

This Pink Shirt Day, we ask all New Zealanders to remember that kindness matters, especially in moments of frustration. When you encounter road works, please remember:

• The person directing traffic is doing their job to keep everyone safe
• A few minutes of delay is a small price to pay for well-maintained roads
• Aggressive behaviour doesn’t speed up the work – it only creates an unsafe environment

Wear pink today, but carry its message every day – especially when you’re navigating through roadworks. A smile or a mana wave can make all the difference!