Rotorua Intermediate School song spreads positive message

A group of Rotorua Intermediate School pupils are spreading a positive message in their school and community.

The Taeotu 1 Rumaki class at the school has written a song calling for people to "stop the put downs", "make a change" and "help people through when the going gets tough".

The song,

It's Time to Make a Change

, was written by the class as part of the E Tū Whānau 2018 Song Competition.

Baedyn Kiore, 12, (left) who featured in the video pictured with teacher Terrence O'Brien and Dante Hansen, 11, Photo//Ben Fraser

When teacher Terrence O'Brien realised the class was too young to enter the competition they kept writing it anyway.

"Even though we couldn't enter, it still became about learning and promoting our school values.

"It's about having each other's backs and being there for each other."

It's Time to Make a Change

It's Time to Make a Change... a song written by our Taeotu 1 Rumaki class. Featuring Dante and Baedyn.

Posted by Rotorua Intermediate School on Monday, 6 August 2018

O'Brien said he asked the whole class for support writing the song and two students went to the school on a Sunday to film a music video for it.

Since being posted on the school's Facebook page on Tuesdaythe video has already been viewed more than 5000 times and O'Brien said the reaction had been positive.

He said the class hoped the song would become part of the school repertoire. He had sent the words to every class and they all practise it before the weekly assembly.

"In the last few weeks the kids and I have been teaching the song to the whole school. We want to make it a song our school is going to really get into and eventually get it professionally videoed," he said.

"It's about our values of aroha, manaakitanga, being there for one another in the good times and the bad.

"It really uplifts and reminds the kids this is who we are."

The lyrics are in both English and te reo Māori and includes singing and rapping.