It was an historic collection of results for our HBHS cultural groups. Director of Culture, Mr Tim Dent, reports on their achievements.

The Super 8 Cultural Festival, held in Week 3 of this term, was a resounding success, with the 16 cultural codes involved providing performance opportunities for over 700 students from the 8 schools. Groups performed across three days, in four different venues in central Taupō. I was yet again blown away by the standard of performances across all of the codes, as our students performed passionately, and with pride for their schools.

HBHS was the host school for the first time since 2010. The administration of this festival was a huge undertaking for our staff. I must acknowledge and thank all of the HBHS staff who have been involved, not only in organising our participation in each event, but who were there in support of the events themselves as the host school. Matua Toti West, Whaea Randell, Matua Tiffany, Whaea Taumalolo, Mr Nolan, Mr Ensing, Mr Ashton, Mr Norman, and finally my right hand man, for not only the three days of the festival, but the months of preparation leading up it, Mr Hudson.

I must also thank the staff of the Great Lakes Event Centre, the Taupō Library, the Taupō Rotary House and Taupō Bowls Club, for providing us with the facilities in which to undertake this year’s cultural festival. A special mention must go to the administrative and tech support staff of the Great Lakes Centre, who simply went above and beyond, to support our kaupapa, providing our students the opportunity to showcase their talents and passion. I thank the tangata whenua representation for the outstanding pōwhiri and heartfelt welcome we received on Wednesday May 15th, and of course, I must thank the 20 judges, adjudicators and arbiters for providing us with their time and expertise.

The spirit of the Super 8 schools was most clearly demonstrated to me through the collective actions in ensuring the Palmerston North Boys’ High School Pasifika group was able to perform on Wednesday night. Their bus broke down on route to their performance, and two other Super 8 schools, without hesitation, were willing to adjust their performance time, to 40 minutes earlier than scheduled, to allow for a late arrival and rearrangement of the performance draw. These schools were also willing to send their own bus to collect the students from another school, to get them to the venue, and ensure they would have the opportunity to perform. This gesture in itself deserves recognition, as it shows the care and love between the Super 8 schools, showing we were there together in support of one another. That is the kaupapa of the Super 8 schools brotherhood.

Being named the champion school for the third consecutive year, is a testament to the calibre of our students and the cultural staff, tutors and programmes at HBHS. I acknowledge all the students who pactipacted, representing HBHS, as all of your collective performances contributed to the overall festival shield being awarded to HBHS. I wish to acknowledge the 10 podium placings HBHS received: Third place in Junior Art; Second place in: Pasifika, Group Music, Junior and Senior Debating, Dance, and Drama, and our three champion placings for: Chess, Senior Solo Music, and for the first time since 2016, Kapa Haka.