With nearly 30 years of experience, the Graeme Dingle Foundation offers school-based programmes like Kiwi Can that are designed to improve student behaviour and engagement through positive behaviour strategies and role-modelling.
Does Kiwi Can work?
KEA Kids News, New Zealand’s multimedia news channel for kids by kids, sent a young journalist, Sean, to Glenn Innes School to provide the kind of perspective that only tamariki do. In a very hands-on interview, Sean investigated whether the Kiwi Can programme could be a solution to the recent news, highlighting challenges that kiwi kids have gained from positive skill development.
In the video segment, Sean takes us inside a Kiwi Can class to observe practical exercises and teamwork. Musical spots is a game which tamariki play, similar to musical statues, however when the music stops, they need to run to a spot in the room. If two people are in one spot, only one can stay. This encourages tamariki to collaborate and find a mutually beneficial solution, positively and respectfully.
Kiwi Can focuses on helping kids make positive choices, demonstrate integrity, build healthy relationships, and reduce bullying. Interviews with tamariki reveal insights into the challenges they face and how Kiwi Can supports them to overcome them.
Ezekiel Laumatia and Michaela Leaupepe, Kiwi Can Leaders, emphasise the importance of their mahi in fostering a positive school environment. Ezekiel explains how the programme provides a safe space for kids to be themselves and learn life skills. Michaela shares “Musical Spots,” an example of the experiential learning games used to teach values in fun and engaging ways.
Curious to see what the KEA Kids investigation revealed? Watch the video below.
About Kiwi Can
Kiwi Can is our most in-demand programme, delivered in over 100 schools nationwide. Tamariki attend Kiwi Can once a week throughout their time in primary school. The programme provides consistent support and socio-emotional learning, helping ākonga develop life skills, resilience, and positive relationships.
Our research and evaluations confirm the programme’s effectiveness, with benefits noted for neurodiverse learners and broader school communities. The programme’s success has led to improved attendance and behaviour, prompting calls for expanded support to reach more students nationwide. Find out more about Kiwi Can here.
Support the Graeme Dingle Foundation by donating, getting your company involved, or sharing our mahi. Together, we can make Aotearoa the best place in the world to be young!
About KEA Kids News
KEA Kids News is a multimedia news channel that engages New Zealand children aged 7-11 by featuring news stories presented by young journalists from diverse backgrounds. The channel, which airs on NZ Herald, Nickelodeon, and SKY Go, covers a range of topics from fun to political, fostering creativity and curiosity in its young audience. As the most popular youth show in New Zealand, it collaborates with schools nationwide, including those in remote and low-decile areas, providing opportunities for kids to participate in storytelling. KEA Kids News, now in its fifth season, has mentored over 500 children and is widely supported by parents and teachers, who use its content and associated educational resources as classroom tools to enhance students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Find out more here.