Student march against bullying annoys police and school

Students march against bullying, police and school annoyed

More than 50 students from Whakatane's Trident High School marched through the town yesterday, protesting against bullying.

The march followed an alleged assault on three students on Thursday night.

The trio, Chelsea Mariu, 13, Nikita Doe, 14, and Ashley Skinner, 15, said they were leaving a school disco at 10pm when they were approached by three or four girls.

"We were just leaving the school, I had rung my mum to come and pick us up," Nikita said.

"These girls came up to me and demanded that I give them my wig." She was wearing a theatrical wig.

"I refused and as I went to walk off one girl punched me in the side of the head, which knocked me over."

Chelsea said as she went to pick her friend up she was punched in the mouth and side of the head by a second girl. She was also knocked down.

As Ashley dialled the police she was also attacked around the head.

When the girls' parents arrived, Ashley was taken to Whakatane Hospital for treatment.

On Friday the families decided to make publicise the issue of bullying on the streets and arranged a march to gain signatures for an anti-bullying petition.

The march did not have the permission of either the school's principal or the police.

Trident principal Peter Tootell said the march was unfortunate. He preferred to leave the assault investigation to the police and the school's senior staff.

"The disco was brilliant, as commented by the students themselves.

"The incident happened on the street outside the school."

He said those responsible were not students at the school. They had tried to gatecrash the disco but had been turned away.

"We have two or three discos a year and have never had this type of trouble before. We obviously will tighten security."

Although the wardens did a good job, police would be asked to patrol the gates when the students left the next disco.

He said no students had leave of absence from staff to take part in the rally.

The students marched to the Whakatane council chambers to deliver their petition.

Whakatane police quickly dispersed the students, taking their signs and ordering them back to school.

Senior Sergeant Pat Tasker said police had identified the three main offenders in the alleged assault and would be taking action.

Of the rally, he said: "I will not be dictated to by a bunch of 13-year-old kids.

"They should be back in the classroom, not behaving like this in the streets."

One mother, Julia Skinner, said she was pleased the rally went ahead.

"It was short notice, but we have to stand up against this bullying in the streets.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)