Art Exhibitions
At Kerikeri High School we actively encourage our students to participate in art exhibitions at local, regional, and national levels. Showcasing their work beyond the classroom provides valuable opportunities for students to gain confidence, connect with the wider artistic community, and receive recognition for their creativity.
Through exhibiting, students learn the importance of sharing their artistic voice, engaging with diverse audiences, and experiencing the professional art world firsthand. Whether displaying their work at school, in local galleries or submitting work for regional or national competitions, our Visual Arts students are supported to take up opportunities to celebrate their artistic achievements and growth.
Through exhibiting, students learn the importance of sharing their artistic voice, engaging with diverse audiences, and experiencing the professional art world firsthand. Whether displaying their work at school, in local galleries or submitting work for regional or national competitions, our Visual Arts students are supported to take up opportunities to celebrate their artistic achievements and growth.
Auctioneering
Senior Auctioneering students learn how to run a professional and legal auction for selling houses using entertaining public speaking, quick mathematical skills, legal knowledge including troubleshooting skills and showmanship.
Two local Auctioneers from Barfoot and Thompson, Kerikeri, come and train the students for just over a term, working with students to perfect their showmanship and public speaking.
Our in-school competition involves both Kerikeri High School students and Springbank students. Barfoot and Thompson generously donates cash prizes for the winner, runner up and third place getters.
Two local Auctioneers from Barfoot and Thompson, Kerikeri, come and train the students for just over a term, working with students to perfect their showmanship and public speaking.
Our in-school competition involves both Kerikeri High School students and Springbank students. Barfoot and Thompson generously donates cash prizes for the winner, runner up and third place getters.
Bands
Rockquest is an annual nationwide competition featuring live, original music performed by school students. Regional Heats are held first where each band performs one original song. Often there are 20+ bands playing that day. The top 12 bands are selected to perform in the Regional Final where they perform two original songs. The top two bands, join with the top two solo-duos from each region and submit a video for national Top 30 selection. From these, the top 10 acts are chosen as the National Finalists, and they perform two songs at the National Final.
Musicians who use te reo have access to a separate arm of the competition called 'Tangata Beats'. To enter this category, the song needs to have at least 50% te reo content. For students who would rather perform as a Solo or Duo, there is a separate category. If one of the performers in the duo plays the drums, that group must compete as a band.
This youth event gives young musicians the opportunity to perform live in a professional setting, showcasing young musicians and original New Zealand music.
Musicians who use te reo have access to a separate arm of the competition called 'Tangata Beats'. To enter this category, the song needs to have at least 50% te reo content. For students who would rather perform as a Solo or Duo, there is a separate category. If one of the performers in the duo plays the drums, that group must compete as a band.
This youth event gives young musicians the opportunity to perform live in a professional setting, showcasing young musicians and original New Zealand music.
Debating
Debating is a thriving Four Cornerstones activity, which provides extensive Cultural and Leadership opportunities for Kerikeri High School rangatahi. Our students regularly excel at regional level. Senior Debating Club, which is attended by around 40 senior students each week is about increasing general knowledge, confidence in speaking and the sharing of ideas. Some members of the club do not compete but instead enjoy learning new things and increasing their understanding of the world.
Senior students compete in the Henderson Reeves Regional Selection Tournament in Term 1, and the National Debating Championships in Term 4. Many Kerikeri High School students have been selected to represent Northland in the National Schools Debating Competiton, held in Wellington every May. This represents the highest level of debating achievement for our students.
Senior debating students from Years 11 to 13 also coach our younger debaters in Years 7 -10. Junior Debating starts in Term 2 and there is a debating club for each junior year level. In Terms 3 and 4, Year 7 and 8 debaters attend the Northland Junior Tournament. This competition relies heavily on a group of Kerikeri High School senior students, who adjudicate the competition.
Spanish debating is also on offer at Kerikeri High School. Students who study Spanish in Years 10 to 13 participate in a weekly Spanish Debating Club, where they practise their debating preparation and presentation skills. Teams are selected in Term 2 to compete in the STANZA National Spanish Debating Competition where current and ex-students have been successful in both the team debating and best speaker sections.
Senior students compete in the Henderson Reeves Regional Selection Tournament in Term 1, and the National Debating Championships in Term 4. Many Kerikeri High School students have been selected to represent Northland in the National Schools Debating Competiton, held in Wellington every May. This represents the highest level of debating achievement for our students.
Senior debating students from Years 11 to 13 also coach our younger debaters in Years 7 -10. Junior Debating starts in Term 2 and there is a debating club for each junior year level. In Terms 3 and 4, Year 7 and 8 debaters attend the Northland Junior Tournament. This competition relies heavily on a group of Kerikeri High School senior students, who adjudicate the competition.
Spanish debating is also on offer at Kerikeri High School. Students who study Spanish in Years 10 to 13 participate in a weekly Spanish Debating Club, where they practise their debating preparation and presentation skills. Teams are selected in Term 2 to compete in the STANZA National Spanish Debating Competition where current and ex-students have been successful in both the team debating and best speaker sections.
Kapa Haka
Te Pou o Manakō is our senior kapa haka rōpū of Kerikeri High School including ākonga (students) from Year 9 to Year 13. They are known for their passionate performances and unwavering dedication to Te Ao Māori me ōnā tikanga. Kapa Haka has opened many cultural cornerstone opportunities for ākonga (students) with their involvement in many kaupapa (events) school wide and in our local community.
Te Pou o Manakō has competed in a number of regional kapa haka competitions, performed at a variety of local festivals including Te Tai Tokerau Festival, and been involved at the forefront of many welcoming ceremonies, including pōwhiri in the past for the All Blacks, and dignitaries such as the New Zealand Prime Minister, and the Mayor of Te Tai Tokerau. The rōpū now plays an important role in our local Anzac Day Commemoration Dawn Service held annually in Kerikeri.
Te Pou o Manakō embodies the values of mana and manaakitanga through its powerful waiata and dynamic haka. Its performances are more than just displays of talent. They are moments that inspire pride and unity among ākonga (students), staff, and our wider community.
Te Pou o Manakō has competed in a number of regional kapa haka competitions, performed at a variety of local festivals including Te Tai Tokerau Festival, and been involved at the forefront of many welcoming ceremonies, including pōwhiri in the past for the All Blacks, and dignitaries such as the New Zealand Prime Minister, and the Mayor of Te Tai Tokerau. The rōpū now plays an important role in our local Anzac Day Commemoration Dawn Service held annually in Kerikeri.
Te Pou o Manakō embodies the values of mana and manaakitanga through its powerful waiata and dynamic haka. Its performances are more than just displays of talent. They are moments that inspire pride and unity among ākonga (students), staff, and our wider community.
Model United Nations
Rotary Model United Nations is a two-day event held annually in Auckland. The event involves 300 Year 12 and 13 students from Northland and Auckland secondary schools. Each team of three students is given a nation to represent that is part of the UN. Students embody their nations' views and perspectives on current world issues.
Students take part in Bloc meetings to discuss issues that are important to each of the regions and debate world and social issues. Students are part of the General Assembly, representing their country and lobbying for support of remits. MUNA raises students' awareness of the United Nations and offers them opportunities to improve their public speaking and debating skills, whilst sharing their opinions and developing friendships with students from other schools.
Students take part in Bloc meetings to discuss issues that are important to each of the regions and debate world and social issues. Students are part of the General Assembly, representing their country and lobbying for support of remits. MUNA raises students' awareness of the United Nations and offers them opportunities to improve their public speaking and debating skills, whilst sharing their opinions and developing friendships with students from other schools.
Speeches
Every year Kerikeri High School students as part of their English class, learn the skills of speech writing and presentation. Each Year Level then holds a speech competition with the semi-finalists, finalists and winners receiving a Cornerstone. The winner of each Year Level then competes for the highly respected Jock Hodgson trophy. Students also have the opportunity to compete in the Impromptu Speech Competition. Many of our winning speakers have gone on to enter and gain success in other competitions including the Rotary Speech Competition, the Lions Speech Competition and the Race Unity Competition.
Ngā Manu Kōrero is a secondary school speech competition that encourages the development of skills and confidence of students in spoken English and te reo Māori. This platform allows students to celebrate the art of oratory, fostering fluency in both languages among secondary school students. Senior students are required to deliver a prepared speech plus an impromptu speech. The competition comprises both junior and senior Māori and English-language speeches. It is more than just a competition; Ngā Manu Kōrero is a space for rangatahi (young people) to develop their leadership and communication skills. It encourages them to articulate their perspectives on critical issues, connecting them to their cultural heritage and empowering them to shape the future.
Students at Kerikeri High School who take Spanish in Years 11 -13 can enter the STANZA National Spanish Competition in Term 3. Students are given a selection of questions on a topic and have two weeks to prepare their speech which is first presented at school. Students compete in their respective NCEA Level. Their speech presentation is videoed and then sent away for judging in the National Competition. Kerikeri High School students have regularly been placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the National Competition.
Ngā Manu Kōrero is a secondary school speech competition that encourages the development of skills and confidence of students in spoken English and te reo Māori. This platform allows students to celebrate the art of oratory, fostering fluency in both languages among secondary school students. Senior students are required to deliver a prepared speech plus an impromptu speech. The competition comprises both junior and senior Māori and English-language speeches. It is more than just a competition; Ngā Manu Kōrero is a space for rangatahi (young people) to develop their leadership and communication skills. It encourages them to articulate their perspectives on critical issues, connecting them to their cultural heritage and empowering them to shape the future.
Students at Kerikeri High School who take Spanish in Years 11 -13 can enter the STANZA National Spanish Competition in Term 3. Students are given a selection of questions on a topic and have two weeks to prepare their speech which is first presented at school. Students compete in their respective NCEA Level. Their speech presentation is videoed and then sent away for judging in the National Competition. Kerikeri High School students have regularly been placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the National Competition.
