Programmes empower ākonga to give back to Northland community
16 November 2023

Ākonga in the building academy at Bay of Islands College are gaining hands on experience all while actively making a difference in their community.
This series brings together the informative and inspiring mahi of early learning centres, kōhanga reo, schools and kura across the motu to create and support positive, inclusive, and safe learning environments.
We also highlight articles that support the mission of Bullying-Free New Zealand Week; an annual nationwide initiative raising awareness of how to prevent and respond to bullying and provide an opportunity for schools to highlight their everyday work to counter bullying.
He kōtuinga mahi iti, he hua pai-ā rau. Bullying-Free New Zealand Week is all about focusing on the positive mahi already happening in school communities across Aotearoa.
Two ‘Bullying Prevention Superstar’ schools talk about their approach to fostering safe and inclusive environments, with students leading the charge.
Frimley School in the Hawke’s Bay school has a strong focus on wellbeing and identity, which principal Tim White believes is helping to address some of the factors at the heart of bullying behaviours.
Balclutha Primary School has managed a phenomenal shift in school culture in recent years using the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) framework.
In a small community where everyone is inter-connected, a mid-Canterbury kāhui ako is successfully focusing its collaboration on student wellbeing using a Te Ao Māori approach underpinned by a lot of data.
In 2022, ākonga at Napier Girls’ High School were the first in Aotearoa New Zealand to contribute to the Student Wellbeing Measures project – development of a wellbeing measures and measuring tool.
Having a strong emphasis on wellbeing is one way that schools can create a more inclusive environment. A report in 2022 looked at themes and narratives from six schools on a journey to enhance the wellbeing of students.
Bullying-Free NZ(external link)
Wellbeing@School surveys(external link)
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) resources(external link)
Inside Out | Supporting rainbow youth across New Zealand(external link)
BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz
Posted: 9:40 am, 8 May 2023
16 November 2023
Ākonga in the building academy at Bay of Islands College are gaining hands on experience all while actively making a difference in their community.
16 November 2023
Rotorua Boys' High School have taken a practical approach to education and training programmes to better engage ākonga and enhance their learning experience.
16 November 2023
Kauri Flats School principal Matt Williams and deputy principal Ezra Feau are committed to prioritising the wellbeing of their ākonga.