Kia Kaha means to Stand Strong. The whole school community must stand strong to eliminate bullying. The following key concepts underpin Kia Kaha.

• All children and young people can be supported to learn new behaviours.
  The student who sometimes bullies will find new pro-social ways of behaving. Victims of bullying can be helped to become more confident.

• Bullying is unacceptable behaviour.
  There are no excuses for bullying. All forms of bullying are equally unacceptable.

• Schools and communities should adopt zero-tolerance of bullying.
  Every member of the community will accept this and take action to make sure this is achieved.

• A whole school approach is needed to eliminate bullying.
  The whole school community must confront the issue and work together in a concerted way to establish a safe emotional and physical environment. A curriculum intervention alone will not bring about change.

• Schools should create a 'telling environment'.
  Every member of the school community must expect that bullying will be reported, and that it is safe to tell. Once a report has been made this must be acted on, in the way outlined in the school policy.

• Bullying is never the victim's fault.

• Nobody deserves to be bullied.

• Schools should adopt a problem-solving (no blame) approach for intervention.
  A group of students, including the student who has been doing the bullying, confront the effects of the bullying on the victim and come up with solutions to help the victim become happier and more involved.