Super Eight opens with hotly contested events

IMPROMPTU: Rotorua Boys' High School drama student Manaia Smith, 14, (centre) at the NZ Super 8 Schools Cultural Festival. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

An annual sporting and cultural festival fostering a healthy rivalry between schools is being hosted in Rotorua.

The New Zealand Super Eight Schools sports and culture festival is being held at Rotorua Boys' High School this year and began yesterday afternoon with the music group competition, junior theatre sports and junior debating.

The first day ended with the hotly contested kapa haka competition, senior theatre sports and senior debating.

This morning, the debating finals are being held, along with senior and junior drama, senior and junior oratory and senior debating.

Formed in 1997, the New Zealand Super Eight group of schools incorporates the eight boys' high schools from their respective provincial cities of the central North Island. The first sporting competitions were sponsored by Canterbury International and started in 1998, involving rugby and cricket.

Since then, the Super Eight concept has grown to include not only 10 sports competitions, but also a cultural festival and professional development programmes for management staff and curriculum teachers.

The schools taking part are Gisborne Boys', Tauranga Boys', Rotorua Boys', Palmerston North Boys', New Plymouth Boys', Napier Boys', Hastings Boys' and Hamilton Boys' high schools.

Rotorua Boys' Year 10 student Manaia Smith, 14, said it was "awesome being able to host the competition this year".

"It's such a cool way to bond with the other schools and spur some healthy competition."

Manaia was involved in two events; a junior drama competition yesterday and a music competition today.

"It made me quite nervous doing the impromptu drama skits with students from the other schools because when you're in high-pressure situations it can be hard to think on your feet but it was still fun and we all had a laugh.

"I took part in the same competitions last year when it was held at Napier Boys' High School so I kind of knew what to expect which eased my nerves a bit."

Manaia said he was grateful to go to a school which took part in interschool competitions such as this.

"It's cool to be able to rep your school and show the other schools what we're made of."