Tomorrow, Friday May 17 is Pink Shirt Day and many kura (schools) and workplaces are supporting the movement by dressing in pink or expressing their individuality in other ways.

Due to the Dunstan Zone rippa rugby tournament being held tomorrow at Molyneux Park, some local primary schools will mark Pink Shirt Day on an alternative date to ensure all ākonga (learners) can participate.    

The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand has led Pink Shirt Day since 2012 encouraging people to Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!

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.

These students bought dozens of pink shirts and distributed them to their classmates to wear the next day. The word got out online and hundreds of students showed up in pink, some from head-to-toe, to stand together against bullying. 

Local not-for-profit organisation Sticks ‘n Stones has been working alongside young people for positive social change and a bullying-free New Zealand for more than 10 years.

Sticks ‘n Stones was created in 2013 with 30 teenagers from five Central schools, after an application to a Ministry of Social Development fund for bullying prevention was successful. 

The organisation has ways adults can be involved too, including support for workplaces in terms of developing understanding and processes around workplace bullying, resources for parents relating to social media as well. 

Listen to an earlier interview with Sticks ‘n Stones chief executive and co-founder Karla Sanders on The Outlet podcast about the organisation's impact for youth in the district.

Find Sticks ‘n Stones on their website, or Facebook. LINK: https://www.facebook.com/nzsticksnstones 

For more information visit Pink Shirt Day.

For support for rainbow youth Puna Rangitahi (Alexandra and District Youth Trust) offers the DNA group (definitions not applicable) for LGBTQIA+ rangitahi aged 13 -24. Contact [email protected].