Sport and Culture

During the year school teams enter Christchurch schools’ competitions in tennis, cricket, hockey, soccer, squash, volleyball, basketball, rugby, touch, futsal, yachting, equestrian and canoe polo. Netball teams play in the North Canterbury Saturday competitions.

Rugby games against other schools are scheduled early in the season because of the many representative commitments of Rangiora High students later in the season. Several teams participate in the South Island Secondary Schools’ Tournament each year.

The Athletic, Swimming and Cross-Country teams compete against other schools in Canterbury, South Island and national championships - with considerable success. We have several nationally-ranked athletes currently attending the school. Sports’ exchanges with other High Schools help to encourage participation and enjoyment. At present there are exchanges with Ashburton College and Marlborough Boys’ College. 

In recent years, teams from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and Japan have visited Rangiora High School. Several Rangiora High teams have visited Australia. Several sports groups or individuals have represented the school at national tournaments. 

A wide range of sporting equipment is available for student use at lunch times. Horse sports are very popular in North Canterbury and this is reflected by the number of riders at various levels of achievement at the school. 

Year 9 and 10 students are encouraged to take part in an activity and competition day to recognise the time and effort put into horsemanship by junior students. Rangiora High School teams compete successfully at the Canterbury Interschool One Day Event.

Kapa Haka

The emphasis in this group is on traditional aspects of culture such as haka, powhiri, waiata and the values of whānaungatanga (kinship) and manaakitanga (hospitality). Recruitment of new members is an ongoing process. Frequent training and practice enables the group to perform in school assemblies and take part in powhiri and in the support of contestants from school at Manu Korero speech contests. The group also performs for local primary schools and at community events.

Debating and Public Speaking

These activities are offered to students at all levels and incorporate both interschool and inter-form competitions. The school has an enviable record in inter-school competition in both debating and public speaking.

Outdoor Education

This involves all overnight camps such as subject related trips and outdoor education camps. Subjects that take students away from school include Biology, Geography, Physical Education, Agriculture and Outdoor Pursuits. Student Leaders also have a three-day training camp at the beginning of their Year 13. An outdoor education module is included in the Levels 2 and 3 NCEA Physical Education courses. Each Year 9 class attends a three-day camp at the Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre in the Lewis Pass. At this camp students engage in a range of activities, including abseiling, river-crossing, orienteering and trust-building activities. They get the opportunity to spend a night in the bush, plan their own meals and practise proper and appropriate bush craft techniques.

Blue Planet Club

The Blue Planet Club is a group of aware students who are working to improve our environment – school, local, national and global. As well as working in with other local North Canterbury groups at such times as Clean Up New Zealand Week, they also embark on their own projects. “Action Speaks Louder than Words.”