Stop the Hate: Michael Murphy's message

Michael Murphy is the Taupo rocker who finished runner up in the first series of New Zealand Idol in 2004. Since then he has been working in the music industry nationally and internationally. He has performed in musicals, theatre and in the last few years has been performing around New Zealand and has been included in the line-up for the next Coca Cola Christmas in the Park in Christchurch and Auckland as well as Rotorua's Lakeside 2013 concert. He speaks out against bullying as part of our Stop The Hate campaign.

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Picking on people isn't cool, there is nothing cool about bullying someone or making someone else feel small. It might make you feel bigger but it certainly doesn't make you look like that.

There's help out there and you'll get there ... ask for help. You're not alone. There's always options out there, people are always willing to help.

It can be such a lonely thing.

You've got to find another option before you look at suicide.

It's just such a horrible, horrible tragedy when a young person takes their life for something that doesn't need to exist.