Cultural

If your child is interested in cultural activities like, music, dance, drama or kapa haka then he/she will find activities here that he/she will love.

Class Music Programme
The schools Music Programme offers a number of opportunities for students to develop and extend talents. The aim of our School Music Programme is to expose students of all abilities to a range of musical experiences, in an attempt to extend their musical knowledge. The school places great emphasis on this and performance to an audience.

Music Tuition Programme
At HNI students have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. Professional music tutors teach flute, guitar, cello, brass, percussion, clarinet, keyboard, violin, saxophone and the bagpipes. There is a charge for these lessons but it is far cheaper than private lessons. We also have some instruments that students can hire for the first year. Please refer to the Music Tuition pamphlet enclosed in the enrolment pack.

If wish your child to learn an instrument make sure you complete the Music Tuition Form in the enrolment pack.

Orchestra and Symphonic Band
Each year we have an excellent Orchestra and Symphonic Band. These groups provide the opportunity for those students who have been learning a musical instrument for 2 or more years to practise and perform together.

Rock Bands
Each year students are provided the opportunity to audition for and to form rock bands.

Choir
If your child enjoys singing then he/she can join the School Choir. This is a very popular activity and last year we had 200 students join the choir. We also held auditions and formed a special choir. The choir practises with a specialist tutor each week and performs on special occasions throughout the year.

Kapa Haka and Tikanga Maori
Another very popular activity is kapa haka. Last year we had 180 students join this group. Kapa haka is taught each week by a number of teachers and a very skilled tutor. Children who take up this option will learn Te Reo, waiata, haka and Te Reo Kuri. The kapa haka group(s) performs at the Maori Culture Festival and in formal occasions at school as well as joins in the Masterton Cultural Exchange.

Dance
There are a number of ways students can get involved in dance.

Firstly all children learn social dancing, Rock n Roll and line dancing through our school dance programme. Students are introduced to the basic skills and etiquette of social dancing. They also get an opportunity to put it all into practise at our very popular school socials.

Children who are interested in dance may also form a group and choreograph and perform a dance at our School Dance Festival. If their dance is really good the group may be chosen to represent the school at the Hawkes Bay Dance Festival. Groups from HNI have usually done very well at this festival.

Each year we have a House Line Dancing Competition and dance is often a part of our Electives programme.

Drama
If your child is interested in drama he/she may be interested in joining an after school drama class. Private tutors teach these and there is a cost involved. Drama groups perform at assemblies and our Evening of the Arts or School Production.

TV 5 and Electives, which has included Theatre Sports in the past, also provide opportunities for those students who are interested in drama.

Performances and Exchanges
Each year we have either an Evening of the Arts or a School Production when students from the different cultural groups are able to perform. These are major events requiring weeks of practise and are usually staged over 3 or 4 nights.

A Cultural Exchange is held with Masterton Intermediate School each year. During even years we travel to Masterton to perform and during odd years they come to us. Approximately 130 students take part in a range of cultural activities including Choir, Drama, Orchestra, Kapa Haka, Symphonic Band and Orchestra.