Hamilton West School

I went to this school when I first moved to New Zealand from another country a few years ago, and it is hands down the worst school I’ve ever been to.

Racism among students was appalling, towards myself and others. Students making fun of others accents (students of *ALL* ages), students making fun of POC and their cultures, ect. It’s disgusting. I experienced this kind of thing first hand, I was made fun of for my accent multiple times to the point where I’d be beaten up in the playground or even in class when the teachers would leave. And when I told the teachers, the teachers did nothing. It got so bad that at the time, I tried to train my accent to sound more kiwi because I thought it would stop kids from beating me up. It made me ashamed of my cultural identity for so long, even after I’d left the school. It was appalling.

Bullying is a big issue at this school. I remember being bullied so badly not just by students, but by TEACHERS. I had a teacher in my second year there who bullied me so relentlessly that I had to move classes, and they only let me move classes when my parents demanded it. And even by then, the damage was already done. I don’t believe she works at the school anymore (as of recent), but she targeted me. A student once stole something from me and she told me it was my fault and yelled at me. The principal once again did nothing for so long, he just told me to get over it. And even when I moved classes, the bullying continued by big groups of older students or students my age.

This school gave me a not-so-happy welcome to New Zealand. I love this country now, but this is a warning to other parents who are thinking of sending their kids here; especially if they have a culturally diverse background like I do. It may be better now, I’m not sure. I haven’t dared to step foot in there since I left. But the school in my experience was disgusting.