Helping research Tall Poppies in Waikato
Award-winning French-Canadian film company Ane´nome Films was excited to film in New Zealand recently.
They used Hamilton’s Central Business District as the setting for their final episode for a documentary TV series.
With New Zealand as their last destination, the film crew had travelled the world in the past year for their TV series focused on different cultural stigma such as teenage crime.
Here, the topic under investigation was Tall Poppy Syndrome.
I was pleased to accept an invi- tation from the programme directors to participate. I invited Joanne MacLennan from Culturesafe NZ Ltd to take part in the discussions.
My support of Culturesafe NZ Ltd is connected to my interest in researching Tall Poppy Syndrome in New Zealand because one symptom is bullying – something Culturesafe experts MacLennan and Allan Halse specialise in.
Research has shown how Tall Poppy Syndrome is a common experience in some New Zealand workplaces.
Staff who are ‘‘cut down’’ for having achieved success or having high expectations of them- selves or others, are sometimes victims of bullying and harassment. Studies have shown how this bullying behaviour is damaging, both personally (physically and emotionally) and economically.
Culturesafe NZ Ltd is doing a valuable job in raising awareness of the harm of bullying in the workplace.
They provide preventative training for management in organisations to encourage them to provide positive working environments.
As a teacher, I can see how being seen as a Tall Poppy is closely linked to education. That’s because learning is fundamentally about reaching our potential and helping others to obtain their full potential too. For me, that’s what makes teaching and learn- ing so rewarding.
The TV interviewer from Ane´nome Films was well informed about New Zealand. And Joanne and I certainly felt like Tall Poppies - being filmed in the centre of Hamilton’s CBD.
In the interview, we explored interesting reflections on some possible causes of Tall Poppy Syndrome and the interviewer added some comparisons and insights into the French-Canadian workplace culture.