Karla Sanders of Alexandra has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to bullying prevention in the Queen’s Birthday Platinum and Jubilee Honours List.

Karla founded Sticks ‘n Stones, a strengths-based bullying prevention programme led by youth, in 2013.

Her approach has been integrated into more than 100 schools in New Zealand and has had a profound effect on the community. 

At least 38 groups in 13 schools, or almost 1,000 students across Central Otago and Southland engage with the in-person programmes each year. 

Karla works with the Ministry of Education to centre student action as part of annual Bully Free NZ week. 

She has partnered with Facebook to present workshops in more than 40 schools nationally, empowering them to create positive change, online and off, in their schools and communities. 

She co-designed ICON.org.nz, the web application which gives young people honest, practical and relatable strategies when they are experiencing negativity online. 

ICON went on to win the Not-for-Profit Technology Innovator of the Year award at the 2019 New Zealand Charities Tech Awards. 

Karla has facilitated at conferences and held several workshops internationally with her students including in Dublin in 2018 at the Global Bullies, Bullied and Bystanders Conference. She is currently chief executive officer of Sticks ‘n Stones

The timing of the New Zealand celebration of the Queen's Birthday in 2022 coincides with the timing of the main events in the United Kingdom to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. 

On the Prime Minister's recommendation, the Queen has agreed that the significance of the Jubilee should be acknowledged in New Zealand by renaming the Queen's Birthday 2022 Honours list as the Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours List 2022.

PHOTO: Supplied