Whanau and Youth Resilience in Te Tai Tokerau

The UPSTANDER programme toured Northland schools successfully getting rangatahi talking about bullying, courage, domestic violence and everything in between.

UPSTANDER is a play which gets discussions going between school students and health services. It toured Tikipunga High, WBHS, Taipa Area School, Kaitaia College, Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, Broadwood Area School and Bay of Islands College.

"Times are tough on Rocky Road. Everyone has their demons and the pressure to play along is way too strong. After all, who are we to think that we can change anything?

"Armed with Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, it’s put-down time. Will going offline be enough to make it stop?

You’re in the workshop. Can you clear the air and set the scene? Join us to create an UPSTANDER narrative for the residents of Rocky Road."

UPSTANDER was written by Bryan Divers and supported by Northland DHB and Te Puni Kōkiri’s Rangatahi Suicide Prevention Fund.

Previously Northland DHB worked with Bryan to produce and tour Matanui, a play about youth suicide. As with Matanui, UPSTANDER performances were followed by educational sessions in schools in which students and health and support agencies engaged in korero and role-playing while revisiting parts of the play.