Each school choir attends one of the Area Rehearsals with other school choirs to help with the rehearsal process, to provide feedback about progress and to provide some objectives for school choir directors to work towards.
Area Rehearsals
Each school indicates its preference for an Area Rehearsal date and time as part of their Festival application; then schools are allocated to a rehearsal to ensure that numbers attending are kept within the venue capacity.
2026 Area Rehearsals
Please make sure that you:
- Book your transport early
- Try to arrive well before the start time – getting everyone in on time will require your assistance and good will
- 9.45am or 12.45pm is the START time of the rehearsal
- Ensure that your choir members bring their own copy of the Festival Song Book to the Area Rehearsal
Representative Choir members: Please bring your Senior and Junior Representative Choir students to the Area Rehearsals. They will sit separately from your school for the rehearsal: Senior Choir – front row left, Junior Choir – front row right.
Breaks/Food: Because of time constraints, there are no breaks taken during Area Rehearsals. You and your choir are welcome to come early or stay behind afterwards and enjoy a snack on the grass next to the venue.
Supervisors: Please provide a suitable number of supervisors for your choir, trained teachers where possible. The number of supervisors will depend of the size of your choir. As a guide:
Number of supervisors required
Up to 25 children: 1, preferably 2 supervisors
26 – 50 children: 2 supervisors
51 – 75 children: 3 supervisors
76 – 100 children: 4 supervisors
101+ children: 5 – 6 supervisors
Please note: If you are running late or need to contact us on the day, please call or text Miranda on 021 457 333.
Special information for schools attending a rehearsal at Haeata Community Campus
The college has given us strict instructions on which entrance to use. Do NOT use the Breezes Road entrance under any circumstances. The best place to drop off students is on Shortland Street (not at the school entrance but a little further along). Look out for staff wearing high vis. For Google Maps enter the address: 77 Shortland Street, and it will take you to the right place.
2026 Area Rehearsal
Monday, 14 September, Avonhead School Hall
9.45am – 11.45am
Avonhead School – Rakipaoa
Cheviot Area School
Darfield School
Diamond Harbour School
He Puna Karumata Leeston Consolidated School
Middleton Grange School
Oaklands Te Kura o Ōwaka
Our Lady of the Assumption School
Pūtahi Belfast School
Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Sacred Heart School
Sheffield Contributing School
St Patrick’s School (Bryndwr)
Sumner School
Te Kura o Te Mātāpuna Isleworth School
Te Manu Tukutuku South Hornby School
The Cathedral Grammar School
Wigram Primary School – Te Piki Kāhu
Monday 14 September, Avonhead School Hall
12.45 – 2.45pm
Christ The King School
Cotswold Mātāhae School
Elmwood Normal School
He TĪwai Mātaurnga Heaton Normal Intermediate
Ilam School
Lemonwood Grove School
Merrin School Ngā Whetū Kohara
Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School
Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate
Weedons School
Tuesday, 15 September, Haeata Community Campus Auditorium
9.45am – 11.45am
Addington Te Kura Taumatua
Chisnallwood Intermediate
Haeata Community Campus
Kahikatea Kirkwood Intermediate
Mairehau Primary School
Rudolf Steiner School
St Peter’s School Te Kura Haoika
Te Ara Maurea Roydvale School
Te Koromiko Swannanoa School
Te Kura o Mōkihi Spreydon School
Waihi School
West Melton School
Westburn Te Kura o Hereora
Te Puna Waiora o Hereora – Breens Intermediate School
Tuesday, 15 September, Haeata Community Campus Auditorium
12.45 – 2.45pm
Aidanfield Christian School
Ararira Springs Primary – Te Puna o Ararira
Clearview Primary
Emmanuel Christian School
Hurunui College
Kaiapoi North School
Paparoa Street School
Queenspark Te Hua Mānuka
Selwyn House School
St Albans School
St Mark’s School
Te Kura o te Tauawa Halswell School
West Eyreton School
Yaldhurst School Tōtara Tūkaha
Pareawa Banks Avenue School
Wednesday, 16 September, Haeata Community Campus Auditorium
9.45am – 11.45am
Akaroa Area School
Amuri Area School
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto
Canterbury Home Education
Hillview Christian School
Hoon Hay Te Kura Kōaka
Knights Stream School – Mingimingi Hautoa
Pegasus Bay School
Rangiora New Life School
St Andrew’s College Preparatory School
St Joseph’s School (Rangiora)
St Mary’s School
Te Ara Koropiko West Spreydon School
Te Maire St Francis of Assisi School
Tuia Burnside Primary School
Wairakei School
Wednesday, 16 September, Haeata Community Campus Auditorium
12.45 – 2.45pm
Christchurch East School
Heathcote Valley School
Medbury School
New Brighton Catholic School
Parkview Pārua
Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo
South New Brighton School
St Joseph’s ki Māhutonga (Papanui)
St Margaret’s College
Te Hiwa Shirley Primary School
Te Kura o Huriawa Thorrington
Waitākiri Primary School