Bay of Islands College finished second at the Armageddon Expo NZSS LAN Clash 2026. Photo / NZ Esports
Bay of Islands College finished second at the Armageddon Expo NZSS LAN Clash 2026. Photo / NZ Esports
Bay of Islands College went to-to-toe with some of the country’s largest schools, finishing second at a national esports competition.
The result from New Zealand’s first Secondary School LAN Clash, held live at the Armageddon Expo in Auckland, has left the community beaming with pride.
The competitionsaw 170 schools take part, with Westlake Boys High School taking the gold.
Coach and facilitator Taira de la Cour Peters said the result exceeded expectations, describing the group as “a special bunch of teenagers” who rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
“As a team, they were unintentionally the most entertaining team to watch. A special bunch of teenagers who turned extremely passionate and loud when they realised they had a chance at winning the tournament.”
With age not dictating skill or advantage in the sport, the team included members from all levels of high school.
Peters believed in the team from the start, but said their performance still shocked him.
“I knew they had a chance to reach the final, but I didn’t think we were able to take teams we consistently lose against. But when those matches mattered most, the boys locked in and got the job done.”
Peters said e-sports was continuing to grow in schools, offering students a chance to turn a shared hobby into something more structured and competitive.
“It’s a chance for students to take a hobby they all play and feed it into camaraderie and strategy.”
Next year the team is aiming for the title.
“We are absolutely going for number one next year.”
The team’s journey to the national stage was made possible through community support, including funding from Bay of Islands Rotary, which covered accommodation costs.
Bay of Islands College in Kawakawa. Photo / Yolisa Tswanya
Principal Edith Painting-Davis said the achievement was remarkable, particularly given the size of their school compared to its competitors.
“What makes it even more special is that this has grown from the passion and commitment of one of our own former students, now a staff member, who has created something meaningful for our rangatahi. Their dedication, teamwork and willingness to represent our kura with pride is outstanding.”
She said it felt like a David and Goliath story.
“A small kura standing alongside much larger schools, and to finish second makes that journey even more special.”
She said the result reinforced the importance of recognising and supporting students’ interests even when they fell outside traditional pathways.
“It shows that when we listen to our rangatahi and back their passions, they can achieve at the highest level.
“E-sports is becoming increasingly important because it connects with a group of students who may not always see themselves reflected in traditional sporting pathways. It provides a space where students can develop teamwork, strategic thinking, communication skills and digital fluency, all key competencies within the New Zealand curriculum.”
