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.
2025 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.
2025 Area Rehearsal allocations
Monday, 8 September, Avonhead School Hall
9.45am – 11.45am
Clearview Primary
Elmwood Normal School
He Puna Karumata Leeston Consolidated School
Hillmorton High School
Ilam School
Lemonwood Grove School
Middleton Grange School
Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Sheffield Contributing School
St Patrick’s School (Bryndwr)
Te Kura o Mōkihi Spreydon School
Wairakei School
Yaldhurst School Tōtara Tūkaha
Monday 8 September, Avonhead School Hall
12.45 – 2.45pm
Avonhead School
Greymouth Combined
Isleworth School
Pegasus Bay School
St Joseph’s ki Māhutonga (Papanui)
Sumner School
Te Ara Maurea Roydvale School
Te Manu Tukutuku South Hornby School
Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School
Tūora Fendalton School
Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate
Weedons School
Westburn Te Kura o Hereora
Wigram Primary School – Te Piki Kāhu
Tuesday, 9 September, Haeata Community Campus Auditorium
9.45am – 11.45am
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto
Cotswold Mātāhae School
Heathcote Valley School
Hoon Hay Te Kura Kōaka
Knights Stream School – Mingimingi Hautoa
Pareawa Banks Ave
Rudolf Steiner School
Selwyn House School
Shirley Primary School
St Joseph’s School (Rangiora)
St Mark’s School
St Mary’s School
St Michael’s Church School
St Peter’s School
Te Ara Koropiko West Spreydon School
Te Koromiko Swannanoa School
Te Matauru Primary
Tuesday, 9 September, Haeata Community Campus Auditorium
12.45 – 2.45pm
Aidanfield Christian School
Amberley School
Broomfield School
Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate
Emmanuel Christian School
Haeata Community Campus
Harewood School
Hurunui College
Marshland School
New Brighton Catholic School
Our Lady of the Assumption School
Our Lady of Victories
Parkview Pārua
Pūtahi Belfast School
Queenspark Te Hua Mānuka
Rāwhiti School
Waitākiri School
Wednesday, 10 September, Haeata Community Campus Auditorium
9.45am – 11.45am
Chisnallwood Intermediate
Diamond Harbour School
Hillview Christian School
Kirkwood Intermediate
Paparoa Street School
Rangiora New Life School
South New Brighton School
St Andrew’s College Preparatory School
St Margaret’s College
Te Kura o Huriawa Thorrington
Tuia Burnside Primary School
Villa Maria College
Wednesday, 10 September, Haeata Community Campus Auditorium
12.45 – 2.45pm
Addington Te Kura Taumatua
Amuri Area School
Ararira Springs Primary – Te Puna o Ararira
Ashley Rakahuri School
Breens Intermediate
Canterbury Home Education
Christchurch East School
He Tīwai Mātauranga Heaton Normal Intermediate
Oaklands Te Kura o Ōwaka
Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo
St Albans School
Te Kura O Ōpāwaho – Opawa School
Te Kura o te Tauawa Halswell School
Waimairi School
West Eyreton School