Doco shows school life according to Peachy

Jade Jackson. Photo / Richard Robinson

A documentary tracking the lives and problems of students at a South Auckland high school is being screened publicly for the first time this month.

Trouble Is My Business follows Aorere College assistant principal Gary Peach, who gets at-risk students, particularly Maori and Pacific Island pupils, back to school.

Directed by Juliette Veber, who followed and filmed Mr Peach every day for six months in 2004, the film last year appeared at the New Zealand International Film Festival. It was also chosen to show at the It's All True film festival in Brazil last month. Its premiere is tonight in Manukau City. It will screen in selected cinemas from May 28.

In the film, Mr Peach, known affectionately to students as Peachy, is shown breaking up fights and dealing with students wagging and using drugs.

"There are so many barriers that don't let our Polynesian kids come to school - hardships that some kids face in their school life that stop them to achieve."

Mr Peach, who now works as a young persons mentor for the Auckland Rugby Union, said it was important for youngsters to have somebody who was firm but fair and someone who connected with them.

"I come from Otara - although I'm palagi, I know what they're going through. I know how to talk to them, press their buttons and control them," he said. "They were bright kids who needed somebody that believed in them and wouldn't stereotype them - I took that on as my job, my role and my responsibility to care."

One of the students featured in the film, Jade Jackson, said she would not be where she was if it were not for Mr Peach's constant motivation and belief in her. After completing seventh form in 2006, she enrolled at Auckland University and is studying towards a conjoint law and arts degree.

Miss Jackson said she hoped people from outside of South Auckland would watch the film and appreciate the issues that are affecting youngsters in the area.

"For some kids, you have to figure out how to even get to school. Other kids would come late and say: 'Sorry Sir, I had to drop my brother off at kindy and take my sister to school'. Peachy got that, he was always there for us."