Invasion of the safety coneheads

Last updated 05:00 20/06/2009

MAARTEN HOLL/ The Dominion Post

PLAYING IT SAFE: Pupils go on parade in Wellington to promote the role of safety patrols at pedestrian crossings near schools.

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It could have been mistaken for an alien invasion of Coneheads proportions as more than 1000 primary and intermediate school pupils converged on Parliament Grounds.

The orange-clad children left the grounds and marched through central Wellington chanting and waving yesterday morning to support road-safety patrols.

The year 5 to year 8 children, representing about 34 schools, wore orange wigs, face paint and ponchos to promote the role of safety patrols at pedestrian crossings near schools.

Led by the Scots College Pipe Band and vintage police cars, they marched to Civic Square.

Constable Duncan Ashton said the parade was also a chance to acknowledge the role of the school patrollers, a role usually reserved for adults at schools overseas.

"Here in New Zealand we give that to senior schoolchildren and it's a source of responsibility and pride for them."

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