Because of our Outdoor Education Day being held on Friday, we are holding Pink Shirt Day this Thursday, 19th May. Could children wear a pink shirt or someting pink and bring a gold coin donation to support the Mental Health Foundation.

WHY IS PINK SHIRT DAY IMPORTANT? 

Bullying is a serious issue for tauira in Aotearoa. Did you know:

 • Aotearoa has the third-highest rate of school bullying out of 36 OECD countries..

 • A 2019 ERO Report found 47% of primary-aged students, and 28% of secondary-aged students reported being bullied to at least some extent in their current school. 61% of primary-aged students, and 53% of secondary-aged students had seen someone else bullied at their school. 

Pink Shirt Day is about reducing bullying by celebrating diversity in all its forms and supporting schools, workplaces, and communities to be safe, supportive, welcoming, and inclusive of all.

The Pink Shirt Day is celebrated annually around the globe. Pink Shirt Day began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. The Mental Health Foundation has run Pink Shirt Day in Aotearoa since 2012. We work to reduce the impact of bullying behaviour and the harm it causes through campaigns, programmes, and resources that: 

• Increase confidence and self-esteem for tamariki. 

• Build rainbow-inclusive and supportive schools, workplaces and communities.

 • Encourage people to be Upstanders, helping them to understand, recognise and respond to bullying behaviour.

 • Promote positive and respectful relationships in workplaces, schools and communities.

 • Strengthen resilience and mental wellbeing for all New Zealanders.

Each year, in Aotearoa, thousands of schools, workplaces and organisations show their support and Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!