Five Whau Valley Primary School pupils are preparing for their first trip to the South Island after winning the region's primary schools' chess tournament.
The competition was hosted by Kerikeri Primary School and was won overall by Taipa Area School, although Whau Valley Primary won the Year 6 and under section
- granting them access to the national finals in Christchurch.
None of the five team members have been to the South Island before, and for most the trip will be their first on a plane.
The school's resource teacher of learning and behaviour, Gretchen Gulick, works with children who have moderate learning and behaviour needs and discovered a large proportion engaged with chess.
She wasn't sure why, but suspected it related to the fact it was a cheap and easy game to play.
A wide range of students participated, and many had learnt to play at home.
The pupils responded well to the notion of a struggle between two kingdoms on an island, Ms Gulick said.
"They liked the idea of war and fighting and it improved their problem-solving skills and sportsmanship.
"It teaches them to lose gracefully and win honourably."
She planned to carry out a research project to determine whether games like chess affected a child's ability to engage.
When Ms Gulick bought a large trophy and started class tournaments, the game really took off.
Teacher Jim Baker capitalised on the buzz by starting lunchtime games in the school library. He said students he hadn't expected to take an interest had, and it was obvious some had previous experience. Since the chess craze had spread, the school had bought more books on the game, and when pupils had been playing for a while, they looked them up.
The students' flights were being paid for by Air New Zealand and the school has held a sausage sizzle at Okara shopping centre to raise money for accommodation, transport, and a possible trip to Christchurch's Antarctic Centre.
Air New Zealand said it was delighted to have assisted the Whau Valley Primary chess team and wished them all the best.
The event will be held at Christchurch Boys' High School on September 25 and 26. Mr Baker said it was still going ahead, despite the earthquake.
