Catch A Rising Star

Congratulations to Anthony Farnham Year 8 John Paul College. Anthony recited In Flanders Field by John McCrae at the ANZAC service at Ohinemutu. Sensitively and beautifully done with deep respect for our fallen.

I would like to encourage all my students to enter this competition - use a poem we are now preparing for competitions. Register now!

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗖𝘂𝗽 #𝟭 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

We’re excited to share an amazing opportunity from CUBEE Group for students across Aotearoa!

The GreatTalk Cup #1 Poetry Recitation Competition 2026 invites students from Year 0–13 to explore the power of poetry, build confidence, and bring words to life through performance.

Open to students from Year 0–13 across New Zealand, this is your chance to bring poetry to life, build confidence, and showcase your voice.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗖𝘂𝗽 #𝟭 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
https://speechnewzealand.rocketspark.co.nz/site_files/37991/upload_files/TheGreatTalkCup1PoetryRecitationCompetitionHandbook2026.pdf?dl=1

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘄!
Scan QR Code to Sign Up or register here http://www.cubee.nz
Entries Close: 26 April 2026

Please senior students have a go ?

𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 + 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗧𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵 🌟
Our Patron, Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh, celebrates the power of language, storytelling, and creative expression!

𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿: Tuesday, April 28 | 7:30 PM
Join Selina, award-winning poet, performer, and author of Mophead, as she shares her journey, explores spoken-word poetry, and shows how storytelling connects culture, identity, and community.

𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
Record yourself performing one of Selina’s three selected poems and submit your entry for a chance to win a 2026 SNZ exam fee!

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
• Deadline: 20th April 2026
• Email entries to [email protected]
• Large video files? Use WeTransfer to the same email

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝗺𝘀:
https://speechnewzealand.rocketspark.co.nz/site_files/37991/upload_files/Selina%20T%20M%20Poems%20All%20Three%20SNZ.pdf?dl=1

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/poetry-that-carries-the-world-language-identity-and-expression-tickets-1983325420723?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

✨ 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗮’𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀!

So proud to be a part of your journey Te Mihi - lyall and I will be there to see your performance Sunday 22 Auckland. Toi toi toi

The 20-year-old is preparing to perform on some of the country’s most prestigious stages.