Crowds queued around Baypark Stadium as the Bay of Plenty’s largest-ever Showquest event drew record attendance and sold-out audiences across two days of performances celebrating young creative talent.

Hundreds of students from across the region took to the stage on June 16 and 17, showcasing dance, drama, music and multimedia pieces that reflected issues and stories important to them.

Pāpāmoa Primary School took top honours in the first day’s junior category, impressing judges with a vibrant performance exploring a range of emotions including anger, sadness, silliness and happiness. Mount Maunganui Intermediate placed second, while Tauranga Intermediate and Te Kura o Manunui shared third.

On day two, Ngongotahā School claimed first place in the junior division, followed by Western Heights Primary School in Rotorua and Matamata Intermediate in third.

Katikati College won the senior category title with a performance praised for its originality, stage presence and storytelling. Rotorua Girls’ High School placed second and John Paul College third.

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale attended the event and presented awards, praising the calibre of performances.

“It was an awesome night … the creativity, the performances they gave were incredible and they put on a truly fantastic show,” he said.

A wide range of special and technical awards were also presented across the two days, recognising excellence in areas including art, music, dance, drama, culture and technology.

Mount Maunganui Intermediate student. Photo / Showquest

In the wearable art-focused TOI competition, Mount Maunganui Intermediate took out the day one title for its garment “Past and Future”, while Waihi College was named the day two winner with “Beyond the Weave”.

Showquest is run by Rockquest Promotions, a national organisation focused on supporting youth creativity and development through the arts.

The event was supported by national organisations, including the Ministry of Education and Creative New Zealand, alongside regional funders such as the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund.

Showquest Bay of Plenty Day 1, 2026 Junior Award Winners

Special Show Awards:

Whetu Rangatahi (Star of the show)

Eloise from Te Puke Primary School

Best Story Award

Pāpāmoa Primary School

School Spirit Award

Te Puke Primary School

Public Speaking Award

Pāpāmoa Primary School

Element Awards:

Art Award

Excellence: Te Kura o Manunui & Tauranga Intermediate

Recognition: Te Puke Primary School

Music Awards Soundtrack:

Excellence: Pāpāmoa Primary School

Recognition: St Mary’s Catholic School (Tauranga)

Live performance:

Excellence: Ōtūmoetai Intermediate & Tauranga Intermediate

Dance Award

Excellence: Ōtūmoetai Intermediate

Recognition: Mt Maunganui Intermediate

Drama Award

Excellence: Te Puke Primary School & Pāpāmoa Primary School

Recognition: Te Kura o Manunui & Mt Maunganui Intermediate

Culture Award

Excellence: St Mary’s Catholic School (Putaruru) & St Mary’s Catholic

School (Tauranga)

Recognition: Tauranga Intermediate

Technology Award Video Design:

Excellence: Mt Maunganui Intermediate

Recognition: St Mary’s Catholic School (Putaruru)

Lighting Design:

Excellence: Ōtūmoetai Intermediate

Recognition: Pāpāmoa Primary School

Showquest Bay of Plenty Day 2, 2026 Junior Award Winners

Special Show Awards:

Whetu Rangatahi (Star of the show)

Ezra from Ngongotahā School

Best Story Award

Ngongotahā School

School Spirit Award

Rotorua Girls’ High School

Public Speaking Award

Kaitao Intermediate

Element Awards:

Art Award

Excellence: Western Heights Primary School (Rotorua) & Ngongotahā

School

Recognition: Kaitao Intermediate

Music Awards Soundtrack:

Excellence: Ngongotahā School & Rotorua Girls’ High School

Recognition: Mokoia Intermediate

Live performance:

Excellence: Katikati College & John Paul College

Dance Award

Excellence: Rotorua Girls’ High School

Recognition: Mokoia Intermediate

Drama Award

Excellence: Katikati College

Recognition: Matamata Intermediate & Kaitao Intermediate

Culture Award

Excellence: Matamata Intermediate

Recognition: John Paul College

Technology Award Video Design:

Excellence: Western Heights Primary School (Rotorua)

Recognition: Matamata Intermediate

Lighting Design:

Excellence: Katikati College

Recognition: Western Heights Primary School (Rotorua)

TOI Bay of Plenty Day 1 2026 Award Winners

Mount Maunganui Intermediate took home the TOI award for their garment “Past and Future,” impressing judges with their creative concept.

Showquest TOI coordinator commented:

“This piece was hard to ignore, it not only had a great story but also an excellent use of materials. I agree with the mentors wholeheartedly, this garment was certainly Star of the Night material.”

Special Show Awards:

Creative Concept

The Polpetta wears pasta / Mount Maunganui Intermediate, Past and

Future / Mount Maunganui Intermediate & Queen Bee / Tauranga Intermediate

Powerful Storytelling

Ride your Fortune / Mount Maungaui Intermediate & Mother Nature Queen / Tauranga Intermediate

Outstanding Stage Presence

Ash / Mount Maunganui Intermediate & Red, Radiant and Real / Mount

Maunganui Intermediate

Excellent Garment Construction

Petal Pages / Mount Maunganui Intermediate, Veil of the Ocean / Mount

Maunganui Intermediate & Octopus Illusion / Mount Maunganui

Intermediate

Innovative Use of Materials

The Nightmare / Tauranga Intermediate, Torn and Transformed / Tauranga Intermediate & Sea to Believe / Mount Maunganui Intermediate

TOI Bay of Plenty Day 2 2026 Award Winners

Waihi College took home the TOI award for their garment “Beyond the Weave”, impressing judges with their originality, creative use of materials and striking runway presentation.

Special Show Awards:

Creative Concept

Senior: A Fall of Two Halves / Mokoia Intermediate

Junior: Broken Fragments / Rotorua Intermediate

Powerful Storytelling

Senior: White Terror / Waihi College & Kurangaituku / Rotorua Intermediate

Junior: Shards of Memory / Rotorua Intermediate

Outstanding Stage Presence

Senior: Te tīmatanga o Te Ao (The beginning of the world) / Waihi College

& Merry-go-round of Reminiscence / Waihi College

Junior: How Maui pull up Aotearoa / Katikati College & X01 - Quantum

Power Armour / Mokoia Intermediate

Excellent Garment Construction

Senior: Beyond the Weave / Waihi College

Junior: Folded in Love / Rotorua Intermediate

Innovative Use of Materials

Senior: Preserved Petals / Waihi College

Junior: Two Sides, One World / Mokoia Intermediate