Imagine opening your local paper and seeing the headline: “Local School Condones Vaping, Violence and Racism.” Outrage would be immediate. Many would believe it without hesitation. Others might even share it online before pausing to consider if it’s true.
But in this case, that headline is false. Fake news spreads quickly, and sadly, it often drowns out the truth. We live in an age where judgement is swift, outrage comes easily, and fact-checking often gets left behind.
At Kaipara College, accusations like these are levelled against us almost daily—usually without any verification. The reality is that 97% of our students are outstanding young people who embody our school’s WAKA values with embody respect, compassion, celebrating difference, and striving for success. These values underpin our teaching, our culture, and our everyday practice.
Of course, a small number—around 3%—make poor choices around vaping, aggression, or disrespect. But these behaviours are not taught at Kaipara. Students arrive at secondary school at 13 with values and worldviews already shaped by family, trauma, community, society, and increasingly, the influence of social media. Unlearning harmful patterns takes time, patience, and support.
That is why Kaipara College takes a restorative approach. We don’t shy away from addressing issues, but we do so through processes that rebuild relationships, foster understanding, and help students grow into decent young adults. Our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) framework and restorative practices are woven through both our teaching and our discipline systems. This isn’t “soft”—it is courageous, demanding work that leads to genuine, lasting change.
So next time you hear someone say there’s a “fight culture” at Kaipara College, or that vaping is unchecked, or that racism is tolerated, we encourage you to pause. Ask: is this fact, or just noise? The truth is that Kaipara College is a school committed every day to respect, restoration, and positive futures for all our young people.
