7 November 2025

Kia ora koutou

I was on a call last week where the subjects of kindness and niceness was discussed in a range of contexts. It made me reflect on the terminology of nice vs kind. I hear our children using these words quite a bit - and indeed kindness is one of our 24 character strengths (funnily enough it does have a description of niceness associated with it - we may know more now!)

I recall being asked as a child frequently by my parents' friends and Aunties mainly "Is your teacher nice?" What a tiresome question! We adults should almost come to expect a shrug or an I don't know in response... sometimes! It drove me bonkers!

KIndness is really the thing we would wish to see in our teachers. It's not about being nice. It's about showing genuine care and integrity. Niceness can be put on to gain approval or avoid conflict - whereas kindness is more active. It's about honesty - no matter how uncomfortable. It's about helping someone to grow. It's neither superficial or self serving.

Kindness is an action, it's about doing right by someone else - even if they don't want to hear it. "My teacher isn't nice, they are telling me I need to correct my punctuation!" It's not about maintaining harmony for harmony's sake!

Kindness can involve bravery. Yes, having the conversations we really don't wish to, providing honest feedback and setting boundaries. I'm sure when you meet with teacher's soon about your child's progress there is a degree of kindness around this that may need to be dialled up so you can be frank - if you are wanting to be nice you may avoid asking the burning question. 

So please be kind and ask it and my hope is that the teachers will too! Clear is kind.

Kindness can be misunderstood. Like a lot of behaviours I guess. However I thought it a good topic to think about as I hear those words often. It's actually World Kindness Day coming up on 13 November. I think we can get ahead of this and have it on the 9th - WORSER BAY FAIR DAY.

This is where all of these elements of kindness get a right royal chance to show themselves. Thanks again in massive doses to our key players in bringing this to fruition. Our Fair Team, all the volunteers, sponsors and supporters, staff. Our children, past pupils and their whānau all love it. Let's get the word out far and wide - hear ye hear ye!

Let's show Wellington what a flourishing community looks, feels and sounds like. I wonder if they notice the kindness?

Ngā mihi nui