Unity says Kia ora!
Have you ever tried to play a game where nobody agreed on the rules? It doesn't go well. Today we're finding out why rules matter — and how fairness is at the heart of how New Zealand works.
📖 Rules and fairness story
Read this story together.
This one starts with something every kid will recognize — and ends somewhere bigger than you might expect.
Unity arrived at the park one afternoon and found complete chaos. A group of kids were trying to play a game, but nobody could agree on the rules. One group said you could run with the ball. Another said you had to pass it. Someone kept changing the rules whenever things weren't going their way. Nobody was having fun. Two kids had already gone home.
"What's going on?" Unity asked.
"We can't agree on anything," said a young tūī. "So nothing works."
Unity sat down with the group. "Let's try something," she said. "What if we all agreed on the same rules — before we start? And what if those rules were fair for everyone, not just the fastest or the strongest?"
They tried it. Within ten minutes, the game was running smoothly. Everyone knew what was expected. Everyone had a fair chance. And everyone was having fun.
Rules work the same way in real life. Without agreed rules, the people with the most power tend to get their way — and everyone else misses out. Rules create a level playing field. They protect people who might otherwise be left behind.
In New Zealand, we have rules for everything — how we drive, how businesses operate, how schools run, how the government makes decisions. Most of these rules are called laws. Laws are just rules that everyone in the country has agreed to follow — and that apply equally to everyone, no matter who they are or how much money they have.
Fairness doesn't happen by accident. It takes agreed rules, and people who take them seriously.
💬Talk and think
Questions to explore together.
Start with the first question — it's easy and fun. The third question is the big one. Give it time.
- Think of a game you love. What would happen if there were no rules — or if one person kept changing them?
- Can you think of a rule at home or school that feels unfair? What would make it fairer?
- Why do you think rules should apply to everyone equally — even people in charge?
🔍Explore more
Things worth knowing.
Take a few minutes to read through these facts together. Some of them might surprise you — especially how old some of our rules actually are.
What is a law?
A rule made by Parliament that applies to everyone in New Zealand
Who has to follow laws?
Everyone — including the Prime Minister and the Police
Rule of law
The principle that no one is above the law — one of NZ's founding values
Where laws come from
Parliament votes on new laws — elected representatives decide together
Fairness in NZ
NZ was the first country in the world to give women the vote, in 1893
When rules are broken
Courts decide what happens — judges apply the law independently
🤝Make your household rules
Do it together.
This works best if the kids lead it — let them propose the rules first, then discuss as a family. You might be surprised what they come up with.
- As a family, write a short list of household rules — no more than five. The rules need to be fair for everyone, not just the adults or the older kids.
- For each rule, talk about: why does this rule exist? Who does it protect? What would happen without it?
- Once you've agreed, everyone signs it. Put it on the fridge. If someone breaks a rule, talk about it — don't just ignore it. That's how real rules work too.
