Under the Bridge was a film that shone a bright light on a school and town too often found in the shadows. Tristram Clayton heads back to Papakura to find out where the cast is now.

Radical changes are needed to New Zealand's schooling model to stop the success of wealthy schools at the expense of the poor, education experts say.

In Papakura, in Auckland's south, crime and gangs are a regular feature of many students' lives and can affect their education.

Students at Papakura High School are striving to change the community's perception of their school, one of the country's most disadvantaged.

Learn more about The Rising Foundation, a charity helping students from schools like those in Under The Bridge, the Herald's documentary project.

Papakura High School has a falling roll, and as far as results go, it's among the worst schools in the country. But there is hope.

In this video, school staff including principal John Rohs discuss the impact of a variety of social issues on the students.

Melevesi's song Under The Bridge was recorded at BigPop studios this year for the Herald film of the same name, about a year inside Papakura High School.

At the edge of the city and margins of society, a school is fighting back.

Three students are completing their final year at the beleaguered Papakura High School.

At the edge of the city and the margins of society a school and its students are battling for a brighter future. This is the story of a year inside their world.

Under The Bridge marks the New Zealand Herald's first foray into long-form documentary making.

Increased police numbers are good, as long as violent and anti-social crimes are targeted, bashing victim says.

A double-booking at an Auckland cemetery has left two grieving families devastated.

A good Samaritan who helped an elderly lady at an Auckland supermarket is "overwhelmed" after being flooded with proposals from gushing single women.

A Domino's manager has apologised for "really awful service" after a family accidentally ate pizzas with meat on them, despite being religiously vegetarian.

Ambulance staff left quickly to take a patient to hospital, not realising a medical supplies bag was missing.

Police have arrested two people who tried to flee after they crashed their car into a house early this morning.

A car has crashed into a fish and chip shop in Papakura.

A van had flipped on its roof, a police spokeswoman said.

A woman who vandalised graves at an Auckland cemetery earlier this year - mostly of children and stillborn babies - has been found

Budgeting agencies are "in shock" after a radical shakeup which has ended state funding for a third of all previously funded budget

His wife's scream was all that alerted an Auckland driver to an oncoming train.

#WillSheVote? Hinekia Fitzgerald has made her decision.

Landowners on three Auckland sites who were told to hurry up or lose fast-track building rights 16 months ago have sat by while land values have skyrocketed.

Nearly 1000 mourners gather to farewell teen who died last month in Whitianga.

#WillSheVote? Lifelong Local Body election non-voter Hinekia Fitzgerald hears from candidates on her journey to the polls.

Hinekia Fitzgerald has never voted in a local body election. Will this election be different?

A homeless solo mother of three who was given a voucher for a motel room had to give one child to her parents because there was no space for all of them in the motel.

Police are warning motorists to avoid roads in South Auckland following a significant oil spill.