There has been a significant reduction in bullying for Te Matai, Te Kura ā Iwi o Tapuika. In 2012 the school entered into the KIWI CAN project to address its bullying problem which focused on turning bullies into friends.
It's the last day before school holidays and Te Matai, Te Kura ā Iwi o Tapuika close up for two weeks.
Two years ago it was a different school due to a bullying problem.
Materori Wihapi a student at the school says, “The children are more happy now, because there is no trouble, the children play together in unison now.”
Materori was one of the students bullied in the school. However two years ago the school entered into the KIWI CAN project to address the problem.
Teacher, Karu Rangihau says, “Their focus is in sync with our values at the school, that's a good thing, for example one of our values is for the students to stand strong.”
KIWI CAN works in conjunction with the school and provides team leaders that help build relationships in turning bullies into friends. Regional Manager for KIWI CAN, Dan Allen-Gordon says the key is prevention.
“An outcome of what happens in the school through KIWI CAN is that we see massive reductions and bullying in the Kura.”
While it was earlier identified in an ERO review that the school had a bullying problem, the tide for the students there appears to have turned.