Sir John Kirwan’s Mitey mental health programme expands into Canterbury schools

Sunday, 5 July 2026

Watching All Blacks midfielder Billy Proctor playing “clap, clap, boom, grab” with a 10-year-old, it’s clear he’s enjoying it as much as his young partner.

But the game in a year 5-6 Christchurch primary school, soon gives way to an important lesson, encouraging students to explore feelings they experienced including happiness, disappointment and frustration.

All Blacks Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown and Leroy Carter visited Te Kura o Matarangi Northcote School on Friday to mark the roll-out of Sir John Kirwan’s Mitey mental health programme ahead of their test match on Saturday against France.

Asked by the teacher how he felt after losing a game, Lienert-Brown said he felt “frustrated” and “sad”.

Three All Blacks visited Christchurch’s Te Kura o Matarangi Northcote School to see the work of the Mitey Foundation. Pictured: Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor play a game with the pupils.

“It’s important you acknowledge it and deal with it before you move on,” he said.

The Mitey programme, developed by teachers and the University of Auckland’s faculty of education and social work, provides schools with support to deliver mental health education over three years.

Te Kura o Matarangi Northcote School, which has 160 students, is one of 10 Christchurch schools selected to join the programme from term 4.

All Blacks Leroy Carter, left, Proctor and Lienert-Brown talk to pupils.

Principal Sam Turner said the school was looking for an opportunity to support teachers to help students with their mental health.

“It’s really important to help build some skills, even just some recognition skills for our tamariki (children), or the ability to regulate themselves or recognise it in others, and how you can support others.”

Being selected for the programme was a big win for the school, he said.

Principal Sam Turner welcomes the All Black trio to the school on Friday.

“When there is a child that's really struggling we all feel it, we all just want to wrap around and help them. A programme like Mitey gives us a good toolbox of resources to do that.”

Turner said the school faced long waiting times for referrals to government-funded mental health services, including the child, adolescent and family mental health service, the Mana Ake wellbeing for schools service, and social worker in schools support.

The Mitey Foundation chief executive Sarah Manley said schools are supported by coaches who work alongside and up-skill teachers in mental health education so they can weave it through the curriculum.

“We’ve always wanted to come to Christchurch, and we know there's been a big need for mental health education in the region.”

She said the charity invited the All Blacks to see the programme in action at Te Kura o Matarangi Northcote School.

The Mitey Foundation chief executive Sarah Manley says the programme is now in 352 schools across New Zealand and will roll out to 10 Christchurch schools from term 4.

“We have that connection to the All Blacks because of Sir John Kirwan being one of the greatest All Blacks so, it was really wonderful to have some of the team with us so that they can understand a little bit more about mental health education and what we’re doing in schools.”

The charity is funded by donations and partnerships from philanthropic families, trusts and foundations, including The Wright Family Foundation. The Cotton On Foundation is supporting the roll-out in Christchurch, Manley said.

Other Canterbury schools to join the programme are: Tūtira Ashgrove School, Omihi School, North Canterbury; Ararira Springs Primary School, Lincoln; Beaconsfield School, Timaru; Our Lady of the Snows, Methven; Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo; Te Mātaitihi (Halswell); Swannanoa School; Marshland School.