E Tū Tāngata Membership
The E Tū Tāngata Membership supports schools who want to shift the culture
of their school and community.
E Tū Tāngata is not a program. Nor is it a magic bullet or a quick-fix. Instead, E Tū Tāngata provides language to help you develop the culture of your school and positively change the mindset of your staff and students. The E Tū Tāngata Membership provides personal support, resourcing, collaboration and training opportunities as well as access to our online resources via the E Tū Tāngata kete.
E Tū Tāngata explained
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The key question motivating E Tū Tāngata is, ‘How do you change a culture of criticism and negativity that has been internalised and perpetuated generationally in New Zealand?’ E Tū Tāngata (Stand Together) is an organisation directly addressing this implicit social norm, otherwise known as Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS).
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No, E Tū Tāngata is not a program, but rather a mindset shift. It is about initiating a cultural change. Over the last five years, we have been working with schools and communities to implement three key conversations – we call them ‘strands’: (1) You Have Value; (2) We Succeed Together; and (3) Others Matter.
E Tū Tāngata inspires everyday, authentic connections. We recognise that every school is different and has its own unique culture. Your young people need genuine, thought-provoking conversations and activities about the way things are and the way they would like things to be. Rather than providing standardised material, E Tū Tāngata complements your school environment by providing a range of resources via our online kete (pick and choose, or create your own!) to help you start those crucial conversations.
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If you’re born and bred in New Zealand, chances are you’ve participated in TPS to a greater or lesser degree. Do a quick stocktake. Have you ever been unreasonably jealous of someone else’s success? Have you ever accused anyone of having a ‘big head’ or used the phrase ‘try-hard’? Or, have you downplayed your own achievements or struggled to receive a compliment? Have a careful listen in the school-yard and you’ll probably find that your young people are speaking the same messages over themselves and their peers. We know that none of these choices or reactions are healthy or helpful.
Our dream is to shift this culture and instead, create an Aotearoa that affirms intrinsic worth, builds resilience and develops strong bonds within our communities. It’s audacious, but we consider it both a privilege and – because we cannot unsee it – a responsibility for future generations.
Become an
E Tū Tāngata Member school
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How to implement E Tū Tāngata - strategies and personal guidance
Access to the comprehensive E Tū Tāngata online resource kete
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50% discount on-site staff trainings
Exclusive teacher professional development
Parent pack - explanation of E Tū Tāngata and digital newsletter add-ons
Free posters, lanyards and badges (each member school would receive a set number of free resources)
Regular contact and online newslettters
20% discount on E Tū Tāngata merchandise
Network connection with other E Tū Tāngata schools
Exclusive student leader workshops
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$2 per student per annum (excl. GST)
Join us Today
Click the button below and we’ll start the journey of shifting our culture together!
Don’t just take our word for it …
E Tū Tāngata has proven to be a transformative force at Te Kōmanawa Rowley School, leaving an indelible mark on our students, staff, and the broader community. The powerful messages that we use from E Tū Tāngata has resulted in tangible improvements in academic outcomes, self-esteem, and a sense of belonging among our students.
I wholeheartedly endorse E Tū Tāngata and its mission to create a brighter future for our students and community. (It) has not only made a difference but has set a high standard for initiatives seeking to make a positive impact on the lives of all New Zealanders.
Graeme Norman | Principal | Te Kōmanawa Rowley School
E Tū Tāngata was a “no brainer” for us as a school. The approach is flexible and provides a common language around calling out tall poppy syndrome. The values of E Tū Tāngata align seamlessly with our school values. The E Tū Tāngata team are fantastic people to work with and have a genuine care for this work. Everything about E Tū Tāngata makes sense for schools and for young people and the way that we should all operate as a society and whilst we are only at an early stage of adoption we are impressed with the impact that this will make for our young people.
Rachel Skelton | Principal | Rolleston College
Recently, one of my research students completed a study in which she interviewed school professionals from a diverse cross-section of Canterbury secondary schools regarding their strategies for supporting student wellbeing. A common concern for many of these schools was that there is a wide range of social-emotional learning programmes, wellbeing programmes, and character strength programmes, but the vast majority of these were difficult to embed throughout a school system, required considerable adaptation for New Zealand’s bicultural context, or were expensive to implement. However, the early reports from school leaders who are starting to adopt E Tū Tāngata suggests that this initiative overcomes those challenges.
Dr Myron Friesen | Senior Lecturer | Canterbury University
WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY …
The three values E Tū Tāngata stands for, valuing yourself, coming together as a group and helping each other and caring about others is humanity at its best, isn’t it?
My advice would be have a go. What have we got to lose in allowing individuals, schools, workplaces, teams and families to value who they are as people.
Steve Hansen | Former All Black Coach
The fact is that (Tall Poppy Syndrome) is harmful, kids get this idea that it’s not okay to dream big, and I think it’s that culture kicking in, telling them, you’re not supposed to stand out above your peers. Dreaming is such a basis of everything we achieve, you achieve what you dream for. If you dream mediocre - because that’s what you’ve been taught by everyone else that’s what you’re supposed to do - then all you achieve is mediocre. But so many people could be successful if we didn’t have this culture that told them: ‘No, you can’t.’
Nathan Mikaere-Wallis | Nuero-Science Educator
There’s a saying, ‘We impress people with our abilities but we connect with people through our vulnerabilities.’ This saying really sums up my story … We all have things to offer and for people to be able to tell their stories and know their worth is something I’m privileged to be a part of.
Graham Hoete (Mr G.) | International Artist
It doesn’t matter what I do on the cricket field, and as an athlete, I think that’s a really tough thing to understand because that’s what you’re judged on. I have value as Sophie Devine the person, not Sophie Devine the cricketer … I think E Tū Tāngata is such an important part of breaking down this culture we have in New Zealand around Tall Poppy Syndrome.
Sophie Devine | New Zealand Cricket Player
Become an
E Tū Tāngata Member
Click the button below and we’ll start the journey of shifting our culture together!