Mount Maunganui College students are buzzing with excitement after being crowned Stage Challenge winners.

The college's 93-strong crew, consisting of 73 performers and 20 backstage crew, performed their ‘Too Bee or Not to Bee' performance at Auckland's Aotea Centre on Friday.

Mount Maunganui College performed their winning Stage Challenge ‘Too Bee or Not To Be' at Auckland's Aotea Centre on Friday.

The theme explored the loss of honey bees in the urban environment - a problem that is recognised throughout the world but is now a problem in New Zealand cities, says teacher John Pringle.

'The story line considered bees and their patterns of pollination and nectar gathering and then turned to observe the impact of outside agencies on the bee community.

'Insecticides, monoculture and the varroa mite are generally thought to be accounting for bee numbers declining and beyond the city hives face colony collapse.”

Students choreographed dances using a variety of dance styles including lyrical ballet, contemporary and hip hop telling the tale of 'baby bee' played by Year 9 student Lucy Tustin.

Having won previous Stage Challenges, John says the college used puppetry as a point of difference this year.

Beekeepers, measuring 4.5 metres high, were created in an attempt to wow the judges and create a scale difference.

Competing against 11 other schools, John says the competition from Auckland schools was fierce.

'They have all been very successful in past challenges both regionally and nationally.”

John says students performed with 'vigour enthusiasm”, gaining nine out of nine certificates of excellence for performance skill, choreography, stage use, concept, drama, soundtrack, set (design and function), costuming character and visual enhancement.

The 20-strong backstage crew won the Award of Excellence for Best Stage Crew - an award also gained last year.

Head of Drama/dance Wayne Flanagan says it was the highest quality performances he had witnessed in his eleven years of Stage Challenge.

Judge Kimberly Crossman says the performance was 'phenomenal, spellbinding, and drew the audience of 2400 right into the story telling”.

St.Cuthbert's College were awarded second place, with Avondale College placing third.