On Tuesday 11 March, eight students and Mr Yates headed to the E Tū Tāngata Student Leaders Day to learn how they can bring back a culture change to our kura.

On 11 March, our student leaders participated in the E Tū Tāngata Student Leader Day with Jay and Nicky Geldard, founders of the movement. The day focused on shifting mindsets, embracing leadership, and creating a culture where students lift each other up rather than bring each other down.

Students learned that 25% of kids their age struggle with anxiety, while another 25% experience depression or fatigue. This highlighted the importance of changing how we see ourselves and each other. They reflected on self-perception, ranking their confidence and discussing why many hesitate to acknowledge their own strengths.

Through inspiring stories from sports leaders like Sophie Devine, Ish Sodhi, and Martha Matalae, students explored the idea that mana comes from embracing imperfections and using them as strengths. They engaged in discussions about how compliments make them feel and how leadership is about helping others thrive—whether they are struggling or already excelling.

A key takeaway was the power of language. Our students were encouraged to rethink the term Try Hard—often used negatively—and instead recognise that success comes from effort. After all, we want our pilots, doctors, hairdressers and teachers to try hard!

Students also reflected on our school culture:

• What is our school known for?

• How do we treat each other?

• Do we lift each other up or bring each other down?

The challenge moving forward is to create a school environment where kotahitanga (unity) and manaaki (support) are at the heart of everything we do. We want to be a place where strong people lift each other up—not a place for mana munchers who bring others down.

Let’s work together to make this shift happen at Westburn Te Kura o Hereora.