Stop the Hate: Rio Panapa's message

Rotorua man Rio Panapa is a vocalist and musician for Auckland-based Kiwi reggae band Sons of Zion. He makes up one-sixth of the band, who have just released their latest single Good Love, available now through iTunes. The official video is out now on YouTube. He speaks out against bullying.

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I think it's a defence mechanism of people with low self-esteem and huge insecurities about themselves so they put on a tough front to take the spot light off their miserable selves.

Often people think of bullying as a "school playground'' issue when really it happens at schools with children

and with adults in the workplace.

It's unacceptable no matter where it's taking place, we all need to own the issue and play our part to stop it.

Don't bully, don't be associated with bullies, and don't let bullying happen and turn a blind eye to it.

Bullying isn't rocket science, everybody knows it's wrong. Without actively trying to stomp it out, it will just snowball and become accepted as the norm.

We've probably all been victims of bullying at some stage and in some way and we'd all agree that it's just, plain and simple, not nice.