For 28 years Tim Tipene has been teaching Children and Teens to be Warrior Kids through his...,
Programme
Where it all began.
Tim founded Warrior Kids in 1994, teaching Self Control and Social Skills. Through his programme he has changed the lives of thousands of children, teens and their families in communities and schools.
Books
As an award-winning author Tim's books are an extension of his Warrior Kids Programme. First published in 1996, he writes for children, teens and adults. Books are a great and accessible way to have the Warrior Kids message at home and school.
Inspirational Talks
For over two decades Tim has been taking the magic of Warrior Kids to audiences both young and old. He has spoken in schools for Duffy Books in Homes, Storylines, the NZ Book Council and Getting Kids into Books. Tim has been a speaker at the Auckland Writers Festival and was a part of the Sir Peter Blake Dream Team of Leaders.
'You only need to look at my life,
where I've come from, the changes I've made, the accomplishments,
and you can see the effectiveness of Warrior Kids.'
- Tim Tipene
Warrior Kids is a Registered Trademark. All Rights Reserved.
A Programme of Self Control and Social Skills for Children and Teens.
The Warrior Kids Programme supports and empowers children, teens and their families with...,
Self Control - Social Skills - Self Regulation - Assertiveness - Resilience - Mindfulness -
Emotional Skills - Conflict Resolution - Self Protection - Martial Art Skills - Fun
New Zealand Actor Teuila Blakely talks Warrior Kids, 2019
Focusing on bringing out the warrior within, Warrior Kids draws upon Maori warrior concepts and Eastern martial arts in a non-aggressive way designed to instil confidence, respect and self-control, leading students to become masters of their lives.
The renowned child centered class where the focus is on personal development. Warrior Kids is a high impact, full on, non-stop adventure for children and teens, involving games and challenges where students become champions of life.
Students learn in a nurturing and therapeutic environment, while also being challenged. There are times of sharing and reflection, times of practicing breathing and mindfulness exercises, times of exploring body work such as flexibility and agility exercises, and times of play.
Students learn life enhancing martial art skills.
Warrior Kids is winning without causing defeat, teaching techniques of de-escalation and containment.
Warrior Kids is child centred. The primary focus is on the needs of the individual and the group, and not on a particular form or style of martial art.
Warrior Kids is not a fixed, paint by numbers programme. Each session is adaptable in order to address the presenting and often complex needs of the participants.
Class numbers are limited to ensure quality.
Warrior Kids is also ongoing, offering further support and learning. Some families attend the programme for years, choosing to move on when they feel ready.
Tim Tipene has run his Warrior Kids Programme and Classes for 28 years without funding, and at times without any form of payment.
A trained counsellor with a graduate certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Tim also holds multiple Black Belt Ranks and teaching titles in various Martial Arts.
For his work Tim was recognised as a Kiwibank New Zealander of the year Local Hero in 2015 and 2016, and received a Medal for his contribution to the lives of others.
In 2013 he was inducted into the NZ Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Warrior Kids takes referrals from community and government agencies.
NZ Women's Weekly, 2000
Assistant Instructors
Tim is assisted by Taiyang Tipene, Black Belt 3rd Dan, and Tahlia Tipene, Black Belt 2nd Dan.
High achievers, Taiyang and Tahlia have been studying Warrior Kids since the age of 4 and train in the Warrior Teen class.
'As a parent observing, I have learnt also,'
- Warrior Kids Parent.
Warrior Kids in Action, 2014
Tim Tipene talks Warrior Kids 2016
Parents and past students talk Warrior Kids
Books
Warrior Kids for the Home, Classroom and Community.
Buy direct in the site store or purchase at any good book shop.
All books written by Tim Tipene.
2012
2006
Bullies and Warriors
First published as Warrior Kids in 2006.
The novel depicts the reality of bullying - and strategies to address it - for children on both sides of the problem.
Going to school is a misery for Sean. Whatever he does to avoid the school bully, Mark Thomas and his mates always catch up with him.
Then the students join Warrior Kids, a program that teaches leadership and self control. So begins a journey for Mark and Sean that has a predictable outcome for one boy and a surprise for the other.
Bullies and Warriors is suitable for ages 8 years and older.Oratia Books, 2012
Warrior Kids: Warrior Training for Children
The Warrior Kids Manual written by Tim Tipene features the complete ten sessions of the in-school program in a format that anyone can apply to their own work with young people. Bring Warrior Kids to your Community! Warrior Kids is a pioneering programme that for over 28 years has empowered thousands of children, many of them from challenged backgrounds. Focusing on bringing out the warrior within, the program draws upon Maori concepts of the warrior and Eastern martial arts in a non-aggressive way designed to instil confidence, respect and self-control.
Oratia Books, 2011
First edition published as The Warrior Kids Programme, 2002 by Families for NonViolence.
White Moko
'The most powerful book I have read for some time.'
- Bob's Book Blog.'Now he, (Tim), has written a memoir, White Moko, subtitled Stories from my Life, which gives some of the personal background to common themes running through his work: dealing with violence and abuse, and fighting to achieve goals, such as gaining self-respect and a sense of purpose in life. All of this is a remarkable achievement. It becomes amazing when measured against his early life, described in White Moko. The very fact that Tim Tipene is alive today is amazing. Every event in his young life seemed to destine him for drugs, despair and suicide.' - Trevor Agnew, Magpies Magazine NZ
One Tree House, 2020
Mrs Battleship
Mrs Battleship is a collection for junior readers: vignettes from Tim's primary school years - both funny and sad, such as when he realised that not all children suffered as he did - a light-bulb moment for him. There were several teachers in his journey that championed him, who saw what was happening at home - and they made a life-changing difference. This is a collection about truth and triumph. It contains helplines and free teachers notes on One Tree House's website - making it a ground-breaking book for reading aloud and class discussion.
One Tree House, 2019
Rona Moon
'My picture book of the year,' - Catherine Woulfe, The Spinoff.
No 1 on the top 10 books for kids at the Auckland Libraries. Dec/2020
Listed as one of the 50 Best Kids’ Books by the NZ Listener, 2020.
'Everything looks so small from up here,’ said Rona.
‘I know,’ Whaea beamed. ‘Even the reasons we felt angry seem so little.’
The beloved myth of Rona and the Moon comes to 21st-century Aotearoa in English and Māori in Tim Tipene’s sensitive telling, strikingly illustrated by Tai Tokerau artist Theresa Reihana.
Rona Moon gets angry with everyone — her brother, her Nana and Papa — and then one night she calls the moon stupid! Taken to meet her ancestor Whaea Rona on the moon, she learns a lesson in how to control her temper.Oratia Books, 2020
Kura Toa Warrior School
In this novel for young adults, Haki must confront his fears and find a way to answer the challenge to serve his people, to serve his land, to fight a Taniwha and, ultimately, to become a warrior. An imaginative expression of Tim Tipene's warrior philosophy.
First published 2004 by Reed Publishing.
Re-published 2009 by Oratia Books.
Hinemoa te toa
Received two awards at the 2009 LIANZA Children's Book Awards: Te Tohu Pounamu mo te wahanga Kaiwhakamaori and Te Tohu Taurapa mo te whahanga Pukapuka Pikitia.
Hinemoa was tough. 'I am a warrior,' she'd say, 'Hinemoa te toa - just like my ancestors.' Is there anything Hinemoa is afraid of. Illustrated by John Bennett.Published 2008 by Scholastic New Zealand.
See the site Store for more books from award-winning author Tim Tipene
News
Keep up to date with the latest from Warrior Kids
Term 2 Classes 2022
19 February 2022
The dates for Term 2 classes are 3 May - 7 July.
Hopefully there won't be too many interruptions with COVID-19. Booking is essential as class numbers are limited. Contact Warrior Kids to apply.
Warrior Kids and Warrior Teens Back in Business
8 February 2022
Warrior Kids resumed in the community on the 8th of February for term 1 of 2022. Seven weeks of sessions are available to students who are owed classes from Term 3 in 2021, and who missed out due to the COVID-19 Lockdown. Tim is fulfilling his obligation to families who had committed to the term, and allowing extra weeks for further disruptions due to the pandemic. A big thank you to those families who chose to do their sessions online during the lockdown.
Term 2 will see classes available to new and present students.
Tim Tipene
Founder of Warrior Kids, Award-winning Author & Inspirational Speaker.
Tim was adopted and raised in two cultures, NZ Maori and NZ European.
His tribal affiliations are Ngāti Kurī / Ngāti Whātua / Ngāti Pākehā
Tim on TV3's The Project, 2019
NZ Herald, 1999
Tim's inspirational story
NZ North & South Magazine, 2011
Listen to an in depth interview from Radio NZ
where Tim's discusses his latest book, 'White Moko'. 2020
You can read about Tim's life in the following books.
Available at all good book stores.
Connect
Keep up with the latest on Warrior Kids!
Store
Warrior Kids for the Home, Classroom and Community.
Buy direct or purchase at any good book store.
All purchases support the running of Warrior Kids
Thank you for your support
Posters
Warrior Kids Posters were printed and distributed over the years. Here is a selection.
2014
2014
2014
2008
2008
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
