Te Rito Harakeke - Marshland School aims to create a safe physical and emotional environment and takes all reasonable steps to eliminate bullying within our school community. Our approach to bullying is in keeping with the primary board objectives outlined in the Education and Training Act 2020 (s.127).

Bullying is deliberate and harmful behaviour that is repeated or continues over a period of time. It may include:

• Verbal bullying (e.g. name-calling, teasing, mocking, threatening)

• Physical bullying (e.g. hitting, kicking, stalking, taking belongings)

• Social bullying (e.g. social exclusion, spreading rumours, damaging relationships, Cyberbullying) 

• Discrimination based on ethnicity or race, gender, sex and variations of sex characteristics, sexuality, religion and beliefs, health status, disability, age, etc. 

• Bullying can occur at school, outside school, and/or online.
  

What bullying is not

Not all acts of aggression are bullying. For example, although unacceptable behaviour, negative interactions between children of similar size and strength are not always considered bullying. Bullying is different from fighting resulting from conflict or an argument. An investigation would need to occur to identify if there was a power imbalance between those who bully and those being bullied or if the deliberate and harmful behaviour is repeated or has continued over time.

Bullying Prevention 

To help prevent bullying at Marshland School, we work to:

• Create a safe and inclusive school environment 

• Recognise diversity and avoid cultural bias 

• Eliminate racism, discrimination, and stigma 

• Promote safe and responsible digital technology use.
  

Bullying Response

Although bullying can be subtle and hard to recognise, all members of the school community have a responsibility to take action against bullying.

• Te Rito Harakeke - Marshland School staff are trained to recognise bullying within and outside the classroom and intervene appropriately. 

• Students are informed of what to do if they are being bullied or witness bullying. 

• Parents and whānau who are concerned about bullying should discuss their concerns with a teacher, Team Leader or Principal. Concerned parents and whānau should not approach other students or parents. 

• Te Rito Harakeke - Marshland School deals with incidents of student bullying through our school behaviour management strategies and/or Responding to Digital Incidents policy.

If a member of staff or a parent/caregiver experiences or is involved in school-related bullying, we follow the school harassment or raising concerns procedures, as appropriate.