Youth Calendar

What's happening in Central Otago

Play It Strange Waiata Māori Competition 2026 (Online)

Dates: Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 21 June 2026

  • Play It Strange Waiata Māori Competition 2026 (Online)

This competition invites Year 9-13 secondary school students to share their kōrero and bring reo rangatira to life through waiata. The waiata must incorporate te reo Māori – whether it’s a few kupu (words) or the entire waiata.

This year's competition will be judged by a panel of judges. The recording quality of the entry is not taken into account in the judging process.

1st place wins:
1:1 mentor session with a competition judge
Performance at our Annual Awards
Artist Development session with Sacha Vee

ALL finalists will have their song recorded in a professional recording studio (one day up to the value of $850+GST) to go on the 2026 Waiata Māori Competition digital album.

Location

February 2026

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat

Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery - Welkam Long Vanuatu.

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sat, 28 February 2026 @ 10am - 4pm Daily

Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery - Floral Portraits by Rod Eales.

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Tue, 31 March 2026 @ 10am - 4pm Daily

Call for Entries: Rod Oram Memorial Essay Prize 2026 (Online)

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Fri, 27 March 2026

Landfall Tauraka Young Writers’ Essay Prize 2026 (Online)

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Tue, 31 March 2026

Play It Strange Junior Songwriting Competition 2026 (Online)

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 3 May 2026

Play It Strange Peace Project 2026 (Online)

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 24 May 2026

Play It Strange Waiata Māori Competition 2026 (Online)

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 21 June 2026

Play It Strange Strange Album Art Competition 2026 (Online)

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Mon, 3 August 2026

Play It Strange National Songwriting Competition 2026 (Online)

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 26 July 2026

Applications Open for Artstart 2027 (Online)

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Fri, 6 November 2026

Tickets on sale now, showing in May: The Big Bike Film Night NZ 2026 (Alexandra)

8th, 12th, 15th & 22nd May

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Fri, 22 May 2026 @ 7:30pm

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Chasing Adventure Film Night 2026 (Tarras)

Fri, 13 February 2026 @ 7:00pm

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Movie - Anchor Me: The Don McGlashan Story 2026 (Alexandra)

Wed, 25 February 2026 @ 7:30pm

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ReWild Snap'n'Share Photography Competition 2025 (Online)

Mon, 1 December 2025 - Sat, 28 February 2026

Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery - Welkam Long Vanuatu.

Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sat, 28 February 2026 @ 10am - 4pm Daily

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