Wairoa College performers were today celebrating with sore throats after being crowned champions of the stage, at the Smokefree Regional Stage Challenge in Napier yesterday.
More than 800 East Coast secondary school students danced their way across the stage of the Municipal Theatre in a bid to get a spot in the national finals of the challenge.
Each school had to perform an original dance and drama presentation for up to eight minutes, using any music and any props.
Among the themes seen last night were I'm Just a Girl, performed by Napier Girls' High School, From Boys to Men, by Gisborne Boys' High School, which scored second place and St Peter's College was third with a new take on Aladdin.
Wairoa College's re-enactment of the 1881 Parihaka movement in Taranaki, where 2000 Maori villagers used passive resistance against colonial troops, won them the top spot.
As British soldiers entered the village, the villagers sat quietly on the marae and watched their singing children greet the soldiers, who eventually arrested the two leaders of Parihaka,Te Whiti O Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi, and demolished the village.
The 55-strong Wairoa group's liaison teacher, Judy Galvan, said the bus trip home was filled with excitment and many students were left with sore throats this morning.
"We didn't get home until 3am, so the kids are exhausted.
"But they were just amazing," Mrs Galvan said.
"What made it better was having our new Year 7 and 8 students performing with us too."
It was the third win for Wairoa in the 11 years that the Northern Hawke's Bay college has been competing in the evening.
Parihaka theme wins it for Wairoa
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