New Zealand has among the worst school bullying rates in the OECD, with 35 per cent of secondary principals reporting regular acts of intimidation or bullying.
Wellington UniVentures has been helping implement the programme in New Zealand schools since 2014. As part of Bullying-Free New Zealand Week, Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon visited Seatoun School to learn about the programme’s impact from students. “Coming to Seatoun School today has just reinforced how important it is for a school to try and eliminate bullying.
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Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon speaking to kids at Seatoun School about the KiVa programme. “It was great to listen to the students, as young as they are, they are very clear about what is bullying.” “We know, from all the reports, that a bully is a bully for life if not taught how not to be a bully and how to be a better person.”