Netball star Cathrine Tuivaiti discusses cyber-bulling.
Silver Ferns shooter Cathrine Tuivaiti has been cyberbullied because she was bigger than most netball players - and that used to hurt.
But having a surer sense of who she was made it easier to deal with other people's criticism, she said.
"It still gets to me but I knowmyself more now. Talking to my partner and my friends [helps]."
Speaking to the herald as part of our cyberbullying campaign, Stop the Hate, Although she was quick to stand up for herself and other, Tuivaiti, nee Latu, said she remembered there were always younger people watching and learning from her actions.
"I don't think saying ignore it is a realistic message," she said.
"The more we say we don't care, the more it gets us when we're alone."
When fellow athlete, Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei, was attacked on social media following a energy drinks and prescription pills scandal last month, Tuivaiti came to his defence.
"When I saw Manu taking all this ... my heart really went out to him.
Cathrine Tuivaiti in action for the the Mystics. Photo / Anthony Au-Yeung
"I saw this man who had given his life to league for our country. For him to make a mistake, that let's be honest, a lot of people have made in their life, I felt that he didn't deserve that."
