Kia Kaha (for years 9–10)

Through Kia Kaha students develop strategies for respectful relationships where bullying behaviours are not tolerated.

The New Zealand Police recommends that schools use the learning activities in Kia Kaha within a whole-school approach. Before running learning activities, please read information about implementing a whole-school approach as described in an whole-school approach as described in an implementation booklet (PDF, 1.4MB).

What students will learn

These year 9–10 resources will help students to learn:

  • about the impact of bullying
  • a range of personal skills to prevent bullying
  • what they can do if they have been or are being affected by bullying behaviour.

Four focus areas

Kia Kaha years 9–10 includes four focus areas plus an activity bank of 24 ideas for additional learning activities. 

Focus area 1: Bullying defined

Students can define what bullying is and explain why bullying is unacceptable.

Focus area 2: Bullying unravelled

Students describe how bullying makes people feel, analyse a range of behaviours associated with a bullying incident, and consider positive things they can do in bullying situations.

Focus area 3: Managing bullying

Students list strategies to manage bullying and practise appropriate action in bullying situations.

Focus area 4: Healthy groups and relationships

Students identify the characteristics of healthy groups and relationships and explain what it would be like to be in a healthy relationship.

Activity bank

Twenty-four additional learning activities (PDF, 785KB)

Kia Kaha (for years 11-13)

Through Kia Kaha students develop strategies for respectful relationships where bullying behaviours are not tolerated.

The New Zealand Police recommends that schools use the learning activities in Kia Kaha within a whole-school approach. Before running learning activities, please read information about implementing a whole-school approach as described in an implementation booklet (PDF, 1.4MB).

What students will learn

These year 11–13 resources will help students to learn:

  • a range of personal skills to prevent bullying
  • what they can do if they have been or are being affected by bullying behaviour
  • actions they can take to prevent bullying in the community.

Six focus areas

Kia kaha (years 11–13) includes six focus areas plus a bank of 24 ideas for additional learning activities.

Focus area 1: Bullying revisited

Students demonstrate an awareness of bullying in schools and society.

Focus area 2: Societal bullying

Students identify examples of societal bullying reported in the newspaper and suggest changes to overcome this.

Focus area 3: Rights and responsibilities

Students recognise their own and others’ rights and responsibilities to minimise the risk of bullying.

Focus area 4: Deciding on strategies

Students plan strategies and demonstrate interpersonal skills for responding to bullying situations.

Focus area 5: Cyberbullying

Students describe the misuse of information communications technology and have strategies to minimise the risk.

Focus area 6: An action planning process for years 11–13

Students take actions to create a safe school environment.

Activity bank

Kia Kaha (for years 7–8)

Through Kia Kaha students develop strategies for respectful relationships where bullying behaviours are not tolerated.

The New Zealand Police recommends that schools use the learning activities in Kia Kaha within a whole-school approach. Before running learning activities, please read information about implementing a whole-school approach as described in an  whole-school approach as described in an implementation booklet (PDF, 1.4MB).

What students will learn

These year 7–8 resources will help students to learn:

  • about the impact of bullying
  • a range of personal skills to prevent bullying
  • what they can do if they have been or are being affected by bullying behaviour.

Four focus areas

The learning activities are arranged in four focus areas.

Focus area 1: No more bullying

Bullying is a problem that will not go away unless addressed effectively. Students identify bullying, realise that it is unacceptable and take positive steps to create a bully-free environment. [Updated 2017]

Focus area 2: Knowing and respecting others

Students learn about discrimination linked to cultural difference, sexual orientation, gender, academic ability, personal growth, age and disabilities. They identify the hurt attached to such discrimination.

Focus area 3: Bully-free zones

Students consider the importance of a sense of well-being, with freedom from bullying. They decide on features of a bully-free class and school and take steps to put these into practice.

Focus area 4: A gathering in our bully-free zone

Students share what they have learnt in Kia Kaha.

 

Bullying-Free NZ resources

Police also recommend using senior activities from the school activity pack, which although developed for Bullying-Free NZ Week, can be used at any time of the year. It contains activities and initiatives that can be used with multiple age and class levels.

The activities are designed to explore what bullying is, the types of bullying, and the feelings involved in a bullying incident; plus to help students think about who they can turn to for support.

Schools can pick and choose the activities that will work best for them and their students. Each activity can be used as a stand-alone short task, or schools can combine several for a longer session.     

 

Kia Kaha (for years 4–6)

Through Kia Kaha students develop strategies for respectful relationships where bullying behaviours are not tolerated.

The New Zealand Police recommends that schools use the learning activities in Kia Kaha within a whole-school approach. Before running learning activities, please read information about implementing a whole-school approach as described in an whole-school approach as described in an implementation booklet (PDF, 1.4MB).

What students will learn

These year 4–6 resources will help students to learn:

  • about the impact of bullying
  • a range of personal skills to prevent bullying
  • what they can do if they have been or are being affected by bullying behaviour.

Four focus areas

The learning activities are arranged in four focus areas.

Focus area 1: You and me

Students learn about the rights and responsibilities that they have as class members, and understand how important it is to respect these. 

Focus area 2: Hurting

Students learn about the impact bullying has on long-term health and attainment of the victim. People who bully may have failed relationships and may end up breaking the law.

Focus area 3: Putting a stop to bullying

Students apply develop and practise a range of strategies to stop bullying. The school fosters a ‘telling’ ethos and will do something to stop bullying. The school’s policy on bullying is shared with the class.

Focus area 4: A cool community

Students create a hypothetical bully-free community and apply the understandings they have gained throughout the programme. 

Bullying-Free NZ resources

Police also recommend using activities from the school activity pack, which although developed for Bullying-Free NZ Week, can be used at any time of the year. It contains activities and initiatives that can be used with multiple age and class levels. 

The activities are designed to explore what bullying is, the types of bullying, and the feelings involved in a bullying incident; plus to help students think about who they can turn to for support.

Schools can pick and choose the activities that will work best for them and their students. Each activity can be used as a stand-alone short task, or schools can combine several for a longer session.      

 

 

 

Kia Kaha (for years 0–3)

Through Kia Kaha students develop strategies for respectful relationships where bullying behaviours are not tolerated.

The New Zealand Police recommends that schools use the learning activities in Kia Kaha within a whole-school approach. Before running learning activities, please read information about implementing a whole-school approach as described in an implementation booklet for primary schools (PDF, 1.4MB). 

What students will learn

These year 1–3 resources will help students to learn:

  • a range of personal skills to prevent bullying occurring
  • what they can do if they have been or are being affected by bullying behaviour.

Six focus areas

The learning activities are arranged in six focus areas.

Focus area 1: The same but different

Students learn to accept and celebrate diversity. They learn to empathise with other members of the class and to realise the ways we are the same and are different.  

Focus area 2: A happy, safe classroom

Students identify what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in different contexts, and identify things that they can do to make it even better.

Focus area 3: Let’s all be friends

Students learn what bullying behaviour is and that it is unacceptable. They know some strategies to overcome it. They identify places in their school environment where they feel safe to play.

Focus area 4: I have choices

Students learn how to turn a potentially negative situation into a positive one.

Focus area 5: Helping hands

Students identify situations in which they may need help from bullying and decide who the appropriate person would be to ask for help. They practise asking for help.

Focus area 6: We have made a difference

Students bring together learning from Kia Kaha as they work and play with their peers, older students and parents.

 

Bullying-Free NZ resources

Police also recommend using junior activities from the school activity pack, which although developed for Bullying-Free NZ Week, can be used at any time of the year. It contains activities and initiatives that can be used with multiple age and class levels. 

The activities are designed to explore what bullying is, the types of bullying, and the feelings involved in a bullying incident; plus to help students think about who they can turn to for support.

Schools can pick and choose the activities that will work best for them and their students. Each activity can be used as a stand-alone short task, or schools can combine several for a longer session.     

 

Kia Kaha: Information for teachers

Bullying behaviour harms children and their educational and life outcomes. Bullying is not new and is an issue that all schools face.

About Kia Kaha

Kia Kaha consists of a comprehensive range of anti-bullying resources to help children and young people learn and apply a range of safe practices that they can use to build and maintain successful relationships throughout their lives.

The New Zealand Police recommends that learning activities in Kia Kaha operate within a whole-school approach as described on the Bullying-Free NZ website:

How teachers can support Kia Kaha

Teachers are strongly encouraged to support Kia Kaha through:

  • considering their attitudes and values towards bullying
  • understanding the importance of addressing bullying as part of a broad and balanced curriculum
  • increasing their understanding about bullying and the use of effective pedagogies 
  • encouraging the principal to establish and regularly review a bullying policy with explicit prevention and response procedures as described on the Bullying-Free NZ website developed by the cross-agency Bullying Prevention Advisory Group.
  • using school data to provide context for lesson content. Data can be generated through Wellbeing@school student surveys.

Data gathering

Gathering data, especially from students, is important to determine the level and type of bullying that occurs, whether existing efforts are working, and get a full picture of what’s going on, rather than rely on how things appear on the surface. Data can be used to suggest particular areas of focus to prevent harm, and to provide a baseline for monitoring outcomes over time.

Police recommend the Wellbeing@school surveys as a useful tool to gather and analyse school data about bullying (the Ministry of Education has announced this tool will be free of charge until the end of 2018).  

Kia Kaha resources

A range of resources is provided for teachers as part of Kia Kaha. These resources include:

 

Bullying-Free NZ resources

Police also recommend using teaching activities from the school activity pack, which although developed for Bullying-Free NZ Week, can be used at any time of the year. It contains:

The 2018 school activity pack includes the following:

  • Activities and initiatives that can be used with multiple age and class levels. These are designed to explore what bullying is, the types of bullying, and the feelings involved in a bullying incident; plus to help students think about who they can turn to for support. Schools can pick and choose the activities that will work best for them and their students. Each activity can be used as a stand-alone short task, or schools can combine several for a longer session.
  • A competition for schools, where students create, develop and promote bullying prevention messages through creative media, in line with this year’s theme Let’s Talk About It!  Closing date for competition entries is 1 June 2018 (following Bullying-Free NZ Week).
  • Information for schools on media releases, developing polices, professional development ideas, a ‘whole school approach’ framework, and a catalogue of what’s in the Bullying-Free NZ school toolkit.   

 

Kia Kaha: Information for parents/whānau

Bullying behaviour harms children and their educational and life outcomes. Bullying is not new and is an issue that all schools face.

About Kia Kaha

Kia Kaha consists of a comprehensive range of anti-bullying resources to help children and young people learn and apply a range of safe practices that they can use to build and maintain successful relationships throughout their lives.

The New Zealand Police recommends that learning activities in Kia Kaha operate within a whole-school approach as described on the Bullying-Free NZ website. In the whole-school approach, parents and whānau contribute to and support the programme.

How parents/whānau can support Kia Kaha

Parents and whānau are strongly encouraged to support Kia Kaha through:

  • encouraging the Board of Trustees to establish and regularly review a bullying policy with explicit prevention and response procedures as described on the Bullying-Free NZ website developed by the cross-agency Bullying Prevention Advisory Group.
  • encouraging other parents/whānau to attend the parent meeting before the classroom lessons start
  • supporting their child with the range of home-based activities that are included in the Kia Kaha programme.

Bullying advice for parents, caregivers and young people

Factsheets on bullying behaviour:

Kia Kaha: Information for principals and Boards of Trustees

Everyone has a vested interest in children and young people developing positive and respectful behaviours that promote safety for themselves and others.

Kia Kaha consists of a comprehensive range of anti-bullying resources to help children and young people learn and apply a range of safe practices that they can use when interacting with others.

Police strongly recommend that any bullying prevention approaches in schools (including Kia Kaha) are implemented in accordance with the advice provided by the cross-sector Bullying Prevention Advisory Group on the Bullying-Free NZ website.

Principals and Boards of Trustees are strongly encouraged to support Kia Kaha by establishing and regularly reviewing a child protection policy with explicit prevention and response procedures. 

Learning activities in Kia Kaha should operate within a whole-school approach, for example the model described in the roadmap on the Bullying-Free NZ website:

Gathering data, especially from students, is important to determine the level and type of bullying that occurs, whether existing efforts are working, and get a full picture of what’s going on, rather than rely on how things appear on the surface. Data can be used to suggest particular areas of focus to prevent harm, and to provide a baseline for monitoring outcomes over time. Police recommend the Wellbeing@School student surveys as a useful tool to gather and analyse school data about bullying (the Ministry of Education has announced this tool will be free of charge until the end of 2018).
 
Police support principals and Boards of Trustees to implement Kia Kaha with a range of resources, including:
  • an implementation booklet (PDF, 1.4MB)
  • a comprehensive range of curriculum-linked, age-appropriate and evaluated learning activities available in the Resources section of  the Schools Education portal
  • School Community Officers (formerly called Police Education Officers) to support a parent evening, staff workshops, the occasional classroom lesson, and describe the programme to the Board
  • the pamphlet Kia Kaha: Your community must stand strong against bullying (PDF, 789KB) which describes the Kia Kaha programme
  • additional audio-visual teaching resources that are available from the School Community Officers.

Kia Kaha

Kia Kaha enables students to develop strategies for respectful relationships where bullying behaviours are not tolerated.

Resources

The Kia Kaha resources include:

 

Other resources

Police strongly recommend bullying prevention approaches in schools are developed in accordance with the advice provided by the cross-sector Bullying Prevention Advisory Group on the Bullying-Free NZ website. 

Police also recommend using teaching activities from the 2018 Bullying-Free NZ school activity pack, which although developed for Bullying-Free NZ Week, can be used at any time of the year. It contains:

The 2018 school activity pack includes the following:

  • Activities and initiatives that can be used with multiple age and class levels. These are designed to explore what bullying is, the types of bullying, and the feelings involved in a bullying incident; plus to help students think about who they can turn to for support. Schools can pick and choose the activities that will work best for them and their students. Each activity can be used as a stand-alone short task, or schools can combine several for a longer session.
  • A competition for schools, where students create, develop and promote bullying prevention messages through creative media, in line with this year’s theme Let’s Talk About It! Closing date for competition entries is 1 June 2018 (following Bullying-Free NZ Week).
  • Information for schools on media releases, developing polices, professional development ideas, a ‘whole school approach’ framework, and a catalogue of what’s in the Bullying-Free NZ school toolkit.

School-wide interventions

To address issues of bullying or online safety more deeply, schools could implement a school-wide intervention in partnership with Police.

Intervention plans

Two sample intervention plans that schools and Police can use as a guide to develop their own school-wide interventions:

Intervention narratives

Sample narrative (or case-study) done at the conclusion of the above online safety intervention:

Narratives (or case-studies) of completed bullying and cyber-bullying interventions: 

Keeping Ourselves Safe (for Years 11–13)

Keeping Ourselves Safe consists of a range of child protection resources to help young people learn and apply a range of safety skills that they can use when interacting with others.

New Zealand Police recommends that schools use the learning activities in Keeping Ourselves Safe within a whole-school approach.

What students will learn

These year 11–13 resources will help students to learn:

  • the laws related to abuse and harassment
  • their own and other beliefs about abusive situations
  • factors that perpetrate violence in New Zealand society
  • the media’s influence on behaviours and attitudes towards violence.

Four focus areas

Keeping Ourselves Safe years 11–13 includes four focus areas plus ten additional learning activities. 

Focus area 1: Is that legal?

Students gain an understanding of the laws relating to abuse and harassment.

Focus area 2: Wrongdoing or moral dilemma?

Students analyse their own and others’ beliefs about abusive situations.

Focus area 3: Anger and violence

Students can describe the factors that perpetuate violence in New Zealand society.

Focus area 4: Violence and the media

Students can analyse ways in which the media may influence behaviour and attitudes to violence.

Activity bank