Look after your dogs

Jascinta from Waikanae

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Poll: Have you ever been bullied?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

People associate bullying with children in schools, but it can actually stretch beyond childhood to workplaces or neighbourhoods.

This Friday is Pink Shirt Day, which began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. People across the globe are now encouraged to wear pink on this day to take a stand against bullying and promote inclusivity.

Have you or your whānau ever experienced bullying? Share your thoughts on Pink Shirt Day below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

Have you ever been bullied?

• Yes
• No
• Other - I'll share below

Vote View Results

• 79.8% Yes
  79.8% Complete
• 19.9% No
  19.9% Complete
• 0.4% Other - I'll share below
  0.4% Complete

1699 votes

Government to Reintroduce Charter Schools

Murray from Paraparaumu

The reintroduction of charter schools in New Zealand seems little more than a sop to National’s right wing ideologues and will achieve little except the diversion of funds from the already financially stretched state schools.

There appears to be little, if any evidence that they especially benefit underperforming children, who indeed appear better off in a state system, provided adequate support is provided. Charter schools also foster conservatism, elitism, and in some instances religious fundamentalism, the cause of so much strife in the world.

It could be argued that of all children who might benefit from a broad state education and mixing with their community peers, it’s those from these conservative, elitist backgrounds.