John Paul College and Mount Maunganui Intermediate are celebrating taking first place in the Bay of Plenty Showquest.

This year, Showquest has been holding filming days nationwide for performances, with a Digital Show released the following week for whānau & community to watch and support.

Showquest is the country's biggest performing arts competition for schools, and Bay of Plenty was the seventh of nine regions to hold the event.

Showquest director Matt Ealand says the aim for students participating in Showquest is for their confidence to grow and leadership to develop, all while learning through experience.

'This platform allows them to work in a team, listen to one another and do what they love at the same time. Each team needs to encourage and celebrate the special skills each member brings to the overall performance, giving each individual a sense of purpose and achievement.”

In the Junior section, Mount Maunganui Intermediate took out the winning spot with their piece themed on the story of Mauao Te Maunga.

In the Open section, John Paul College took the title with their piece looking at the five stages of grief.

Both schools now go on to compete nationally in the ‘online' national final.

The national results will be announced in late July.

Teams were judged overall on their production, performance, movement, and theme.

The 2022 judges nationwide are actor/director Angela Bloomfield, musician Mike Knapp and dancer Chance McKay.

Angela Bloomfield says the region has 'great stories and beautiful choreography”.

'Young people in the Bay of Plenty have extraordinary talent.

'The NZ theatre business in the future is in great hands.”

The full list of awards from Showquest Bay of Plenty Junior:

1st Place: Mount Maunganui Intermediate
2nd Place: Papamoa Primary School
3rd Place: Tauranga Intermediate
ZM Soundtrack Award: Tauranga Intermediate
Best Theme: Mount Maunganui Intermediate
Best Use Of Drama: Papamoa Primary School
Best Choreography: Mount Maunganui Intermediate & Papamoa Primary School
Best Lighting Mount: Maunganui Intermediate
Best Live Music: Mount Maunganui Intermediate
Best Use Of Video Wall: Mount Maunganui Intermediate
Effect Costume & Enhancement: Mokoia Intermediate
Best Use Of Props: Papamoa Primary School

The full list of awards from Showquest Bay of Plenty Open:

1st Place: John Paul College
2nd Place: Rotorua Lakes High School
3rd Place: ACG Tauranga
Zm Soundtrack Award: Katikati College
Best Theme: Rotorua Lakes High School
Best Use Of Drama: ACG Tauranga
Best Choreography: John Paul College
Best Lighting: John Paul College
Best Live Music: Katikati College
Best Use Of Video Wall: John Paul College
Effect Costume & Enhancement: John Paul College
Best Use Of Props: Rotorua Lakes High School & Acg Tauranga

Tikanga Award: Mokoia Intermediate

Outstanding Rangatahi: ‘Grandma' From Papamoa Primary & the main performer John Paul College

The full list of awards from Showquest Toi (Wearable Art):

Star Of The Night- Rehua And Peke Hawani, Mokoia Intermediate
Creative Impact - The Paper Princess, Mount Maunganui Intermediate
Creative Impact - Metanoia, Mount Maunganui Intermediate
Creative Impact - Blue Dragon / Tarakona, Mount Maunganui Intermediate
Inventive Materials - Musical Memories, Mount Maunganui Intermediate
Inventive Materials - Rehua And Peke Hawani, Mokoia Intermediate
Garment Construction - Mermaid Atargatis, Mount Maunganui Intermediate
Garment Construction - Blue Dragon / Tarakona, Mount Maunganui Intermediate
Storytelling Rehua And Peke Hawani, Mokoia Intermediate
Storytelling Ursula's Daughter, Mount Maunganui Intermediate

Showquest is being staged in Manawatū, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, Southland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Northland and Auckland. A National Digital Final will name the top entry nationwide in July.

Showquest is supported by the Ministry of Education, ZM, Kogan Mobile, Rockshop, World of WearableArt and Bernina.

Results were announced at the end of the Digital Show, which can be watched on Showquest's website.