Meet emotional support dog, Zephyr, a Border Collie who recently joined an NZ educational programme run by Great Potentials Foundation.
The use of dogs in educational and support settings has long shown pawsome results. This year, the Auckland-based mentoring and tutoring programme for students appointed its very first ‘Pawsitivity Wellness Officer’ – a 15-month-old Border Collie named Zephyr.
The not-for-profit education programme MATES (Mentoring and Tutoring Education Scheme) has introduced the bright-eyed Border Collie to provide emotional support and positivity to students in the programme. We caught up with MATES programme manager and Zephyr’s owner, Teri Fong Murray, to find out more.
Hi Teri. We love what you’re doing at MATES – tell us a bit more about the programme.
Run by the Great Potentials Foundation, MATES helps students who have potential yet face challenges in school. It supports Year 8 and Year 13 students from 14 schools across Central, West, and South Auckland.
Students are matched with university mentors who guide and support them through important points in their education. The goal is to build confidence, raise aspirations, and improve school results for young people who might otherwise struggle. And now, they’re also getting to benefit from an emotional support dog as part of this NZ programme!
What inspired the idea to bring Zephyr in as an emotional support dog?
We’re fortunate to have a supportive environment where staff can bring their pups to the office, something our CEO, Mark Veale, actively encourages. I’ve seen firsthand how much joy a pup like Zephyr could bring to people and felt he could add real value to the Great Potentials Foundation MATES programme.
Beyond the emotional support Zephyr the dog provides, he has also become a great way to engage these NZ students in conversations about animal safety and care, particularly important in some of our communities where stray dogs are common. He’s not only a source of happiness, but also a gentle teacher of empathy and responsibility!
What does Zephyr do during his visits?
Zephyr has become a much-loved part of the MATES whānau! As an NZ emotional support dog, he visits MATES sessions to show off his pawty tricks, helps us to demonstrate to students how to safely approach dogs and shares why it’s important to treat all living beings with kindness.
He also shares lots of ‘pawsitivity’ tips for mentors each week. I send my team of 80+ mentors weekly email updates and always sign off with a Pawsitvity tip and photo from Zephyr! The last one was “Sometimes, connecting with nature is the best way to feel better about a stressful situation. I for one, love jumping in muddy puddles!”
In the office, he offers staff moments of joy and calm during high-stress times. He’s more than just a dog, he’s a connector and a mood-lifter for our young people and team alike.
What are students and staff’s general reactions to Zephyr – any memorable moments?
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Students light up when they see our ‘pawsitivity officer’! One standout moment was during a Year 8 MATES session when a typically shy and reserved mentee volunteered to do a trick with Zephyr.
With gentle confidence, the student asked Zephyr to sit and shake paws; and Zephyr did! The excitement and joy on the student’s face was unforgettable. For staff, giving Zephyr a cuddle and belly rub has become a welcome mental health break during busy workdays.
In terms of his work as an emotional support dog in NZ, what does Zephyr’s presence tell young people about emotional wellbeing, kindness, or even vulnerability?
Zephyr teaches us that it’s okay to pause and be present. He creates a safe space where young people can drop their guard.
In a world that asks a lot of rangatahi, especially those from under-resourced communities, Zephyr offers unconditional care. His gentle nature reminds them that being soft, open, and vulnerable is a strength, not a weakness.
How do you see Zephyr’s role as an emotional support dog evolving as the initiative grows, and are there plans to expand the wellness component?
We see Zephyr’s role evolving from being a much-loved mascot and ‘pawsitivity officer’ to becoming a more intentional part of our wellness and engagement strategy.
We’re exploring ways to formalise his impact such as structured “paws and reflect” sessions where students can check in on their emotions, or Zephyr-led wellbeing check-ins for mentors during busy periods.
We’re also considering expanding the wellness component to include broader hauora-focused resources for students and mentors such as mindfulness exercises, resilience workshops and more. Zephyr’s presence has sparked deeper conversations about mental health and wellbeing, and we see real potential in growing that kaupapa alongside our academic support.
Before you go, read more about the role of dogs in our mental and physical health:
- 6 Physical Benefits of Owning a Dog or Cat
- Marvellous NZ Pups Helping People with Mental Health + Detecting Rare Diseases
- Inspiring Assistance Dogs You’ll Want to Know
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