The Girl with the Wild Hair – A Primary School Story from Wellington

At a small primary school in Wellington, an 8-year-old girl named Aroha, of Māori descent, was often teased by her classmates for her wild, curly hair.

One day, her teacher organized a “Draw Yourself” activity. Each student was to draw a self-portrait and write one sentence describing themselves.

While many kids drew sleek, straight hair, Aroha quietly painted herself with big, vibrant curls in colors of green, orange, and yellow.

Below her drawing, she wrote:

“My hair is wild like the wind – and that’s why I love it.”

The teacher was moved to tears. That day, instead of grading the drawings, she organized a class session called “What Makes Me Special.”

Each child stood up and shared something that once made them feel different—and why they now feel proud of it.

Aroha received the loudest applause of the day.

In the weeks that followed, many girls in the class started wearing their hair naturally—some even colored in fake curls to “look like Aroha.”

One parent shared:

“My daughter came home and said, ‘Mum, I want curly hair like Aroha’s, because it looks like a forest that can dance.’”

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