Abstract
On April 15, 2008, six students (aged 16 years) and one teacher (aged 29 years) from a New Zealand school lost their lives in a river canyoning tragedy. The present study investigated the school principal’s perspective of how he led his school through the tragedy, and the role of faith in the school’s coping. The school principal was interviewed two years after the event. The school’s Christian foundation was the fundamental source of strength and guidance for the principal, as well as for students, staff, teachers, and families in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy and in the two years following (i.e., to the time of the present study), the Christian culture of the school guiding decision-making. Support from outside the school (e.g. critical incident support; teaching support from other schools; social support from community agencies and civic leaders) also played an important role in assisting the school through the tragedy, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the event. Further studies are required that allow the voices of children, families and school staff to be heard regarding leadership strategies that impact on them through a disaster.
Highlights
On April 15, 2008, six Year-12 students and one teacher from Elim Christian College (ECC) in Auckland, New Zealand, lost their lives in a river canyoning tragedy
The present study reports on the school principal, Mr Murray Burton’s (MB), perspective of how he led his school through the tragedy, and how faith assisted him and his school in their coping with adversity
ECC is founded on Christian beliefs and values, where Christian values are threaded through the school programme, and guide the conductance of the school at all times
Summary
On April 15, 2008, six Year-12 students (aged 16 years) and one teacher (aged 29 years) from Elim Christian College (ECC) in Auckland, New Zealand, lost their lives in a river canyoning tragedy. The group was attending an outdoor education programme provided by an independent provider in a hilly, bush-clad region of the central North Island of New Zealand. The river rose rapidly after heavy rain, stranding the canyoning group on a ledge. How to cite this paper: Tarrant, R. An attempt to leave the ledge and exit the river before the river rose further resulted in multiple loss of life. The canyoning group comprised 10 people: eight students; one teacher; and an instructor employed by the outdoor education centre. Two students and the instructor survived the activity. There was considerable media coverage of the tragedy in the days immediately after the tragedy and at various times in the years since as enquiries and inquests were completed
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