Some of Northland's youngest, brightest and most creative minds will step into the spotlight tomorrow when New Zealand's largest and longest running youth performing arts event begins its 24th nationwide tour.
Six Northland Schools - defending champions Dargaville High; Bream Bay College; Kamo High; Kerikeri High and Whangarei Boys' and Girls' High - will descend on Forum North on Friday to take part in the annual Stage Challenge.
Stage Challenge Event Manager Hazel Reid said the event had the ability to make a positive impact on many young people's lives.
"Stage Challenge ... gives our youth invaluable life experience and acts as the perfect platform to showcase talent in all its forms".
Ms Reid said it provided the platform to a young person's development in resilience, confidence building and self-esteem.
Students work together by combining their creative, youthful minds to portray social messages, political messages, significant community concepts, and pure fantasy through their performances, which last up to eight minutes each. These themes reflect issues concerning the students and aim to have the audience leave the event thinking critically.
Dargaville High School won 2015's challenge in the Open Division, and Kerikeri High School won the Southern Trust "Award of Excellence for Stage Use". The show kicks off at 7pm tomorrow.