Passionate educator the reel deal at film fest

Audiences will be taken back to school south-side style with a documentary premiering at this week’s Auckland Film Festival.

Shot at Papatoetoe’s Aorere College in 2004, Trouble is My Business follows the quest by former assistant principal Gary Peach to keep students in school and out of trouble.

Juliette Veber’s feature-length film documents Mr Peach’s "firm but fair" and unapologetic approach to education while exploring issues facing many low-decile schools in south Auckland.

"The focus of the film was on truancy issues and the barriers that prevent kids from getting to and staying at school," Mr Peach says.

The documentary was filmed over six months during which Mr Peach says Ms Veber got "a lot stuff".

At the time Mr Peach was in charge of student management which required him to deal with discipline and getting students "focused to learn".

"I was really passionate about helping these kids because I grew up in Otara. Back in the day I played on the same streets that many of them came from."

He believes the film presents an accurate portrayal of the issues and that Ms Veber did a "marvellous job in putting it together".

Mr Peach found it a bit of a shock seeing himself on screen because he didn’t realise how he came across to some people.

"It was just everyday life but when I saw the documentary I didn’t realise the impact I had on the kids."

Although he’s the central figure in the film he dismisses the notion he was a one-man crusade and says it was a joint approach between the staff and students.

"What I did there was no big deal. I did my job.

"The issues Aorere faced were and are no different to any school in the region and the country for that matter.

"And I’ll go on the record to say that south Auckland kids are some of the best to teach in the world."

Trouble is My Business screens at the Sky City Theatre on July 13 and 15.

For information and therfestival programme see the website www.nzff.co.nz.

• Mr Peach now works for the Auckland Rugby Union.

- © Fairfax NZ News