The Rotorua Lakes Council have partnered with mentoring organisation Big Brother Big Sisters Rotorua to mentor children as part of the Child Equity Programme.

Council staff members will be mentoring students from Sunset Primary School, and the council are hoping to lead by example within the local business community, in helping to support tamariki.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is currently running two programmes in Rotorua, a school-based programme and a community based programme.

The council staff meet with the students once a week during school time on school grounds to take part in learning based activities, such as board games, cooking, playing sport or woodwork.

Sunset Primary School principal Eden Chapman says the Big Brothers Big Sisters programme is invaluable, for both the children and mentors.

'It provides these kids with a different perspective on life and they get to talk to someone who has had a different set of experiences.”

Big Brother Big Sisters Rotorua coordinator Darryl Parker says the project is all about collaboration.

'The police came on board 18 months ago and now council has come on board. They are showing leadership in the community and are leading by example.”

The Rotorua Lakes Council events and engagement coordinator Tori Williams says she volunteered to take part because we wanted to be a positive change for someone.

Tori has already been partnered with her little sister, and she says she is ‘awesome'.

'She's sevem and is into baking and crafts and that's all stuff that I am looking forward to doing with her.

'My little sister has lots of siblings so she might not get too much one on one time with people, so it's nice to be able to provide her with that.”