An adjudicator for the Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society 54^th Competitions Festival says she is judging speeches of high quality.

The district-wide competitions are taking place this week as part of the society's annual holiday celebrations.

See video below of George Catto reading a poem at the competition today.

Sherilyn Hellier says so far they have heard poetry reading and one bible reading.

'I have just finished judging in Rotorua and the two towns are on a par with each other,” says Sherilyn.

'The children have been wonderful in their presentation and I think it's a testament to good teaching.”

She says all children they seen have been from under eight years old and under 15.

'There have been scholarship classes as well; from an adjudicator's point of view, the standard is very high.

'Children made great selections in the choices they presented.”

Eight different performing arts are being hosted at the theatre with a festival concert planned for Sunday.

Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society president Annette Johnston says the event will run for 10 days.