At the start of each school year, Year 9 students will attend an Expo in the Hall highlighting the range of groups, clubs and opportunities in dance and drama available to students. Please check out the list below of HVHS’s clubs, groups and co-curricular activities.
Book Club (Years 9-10)
Staff contact – Jane Paterson (jane.paterson@hvhs.school.nz)
Junior Book Club is an enrichment group for keen readers in Years 9–10. We share recommendations, read and discuss short fiction and poetry, and run workshops to build and extend our skills in English.
Participating in Junior Book Club counts as an extracurricular for Ad Alta. Starting Tuesday, 17 February, come along to V21 on Tuesday lunchtimes.
Students may also be interested in joining the Writing Club (see details on this page).
Cards & Board Games Club
Staff contact – Marcus Blomquist (marcus.blomquist@hvhs.school.nz)
Ever wanted to learn chess or magic – The Gathering (MTG)? Hutt Valley High School has a Chess & Card Game Club that meets every Tuesday after school in V8 from 3:30-4:30pm.
The Cards & Board Games Club is a very inclusive space so don’t worry about not knowing anyone or the games themselves. Students from all year levels are welcome to attend. The club counts towards Ad Alta as well.
Chinese Chess Club
Staff contact – Yanling Guo (yanling.guo@hvhs.school.nz)
Learn and play Chinese chess (Xiangqi) every Wednesday at lunchtime in D1. Chinese chess is considered more complex than Western chess and is often played at a faster pace. Come along and join in. It will be fun!
Also running at the same time and in the same room is the Mahjong Club. Both clubs count towards Ad Alta.
Chess Club
Staff contact – Nicholas Kovacev (nicholas.kovacev@hvhs.school.nz)
The Chess Club meets every Wednesday at lunchtime in M3. It’s a friendly and relaxed club that welcomes players of all skill levels. This club is for students who want to improve their chess skills and play casual games. This club counts towards Ad Alta for students with regular attendance.
If there’s enough interest, we may organise an inter-school competition or enter a team in the Wellington Regional Interschool Competition in Term 3.
Circus Skills Group
Staff contact – Ben Britton (ben.britton@hvhs.school.nz)
The Circus Skills Group meets Wednesday lunchtimes on the green space by the Canteen. Why attend? In case you have to run away to join the circus!
Come along learn something new and try your hand at some entertaining circus skills. We have a variety of props to play with including unicycles, devil sticks and rope darts. Open to all year groups and all skills levels are welcome.
Coding & Animating Club
Staff contact – Katie Long (katie.long@hvhs.school.nz)
The Coding and Animating Club is a space for students of all levels of experience to share ideas and knowledge. Students are welcome to bring their own projects or learn how to code and animate 3D games, multiplayer games, 3D models, and complex animations, this club has something for everyone.
Join us us every Thursday lunchtime in B15.
Cosplay Club
Staff Contact – Maddison Nicholl (maddison.nicholl@hvhs.school.nz)
Interested in cosplay, prop making, or wig styling? Want to learn how to make an awesome outfit for Armageddon Expo or GGWP (Great Games with Pals)?
Come to Cosplay Club, in B1 every Tuesday lunchtime! The club is open to all year levels. There’s no need to email or sign up beforehand, students are welcome to simply show up.
We are a chill club where we appreciate the weird, the creative, and the crafty. We have sewing machines and the tools to teach you – you just need to bring your own cosplay materials (fabric, foam, wigs, etc). This club counts towards Ad Alta for students with regular attendance.
Cycling Group
Please see HVHS Wheelies for more information.
Darts Club
Staff contact – Stephen Gibson (stephen.gibson@hvhs.school.nz)
Held on Thursday and Friday lunchtimes in the Social Sciences resource room between B21 and B23. As we only have two dartboards available, we may need to limit numbers from time to time. Come along and we’ll do our best to get everyone involved.
Debating (for the HVHS Team)
Staff contact – Ioanna Koroniadis (ioanna.koroniadis@hvhs.school.nz)
For students in Years 9-13, please get in touch with Ioanna Koroniadis (Dance, Drama & Media Studies Teacher) for information on our school’s debating teams.
Drawing Club
Staff contact – Nicole Webber (nicole.webber@hvhs.school.nz)
Join Drawing Club for a casual weekly meet-up hosted by Nicole Webber with some like-minded artists. Try some new drawing techniques based on a surprise weekly topic, and participate in challenges for prizes. The club is in G3, every Thursday at lunchtime. This counts towards Ad Alta for consistent members.
Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Staff contact – Sarah Coales (sarah.coales@hvhs.school.nz)
For more information, visit our Duke of Edinburgh Awards page by clicking here
Dungeons and Dragons / D&D Group
Staff contact – Marcus Blomquist (marcus.blomquist@hvhs.school.nz)
Come join us for Dungeons and Dragons every week starting from Thursday, 12 February 2026!
The D&D Group meets every Thursday from Week 2, from 3:15–5:30pm in V8. Members range from complete beginners to players with years of experience — everyone is welcome. There is no cost to join, and all resources are provided.
English Help Room – Open to Students in Years 9 & 10
Staff contact – Derek Wood (derek.wood@hvhs.school.nz)
Stuck on an essay? Not sure how to start a paragraph? Feeling a bit unsure about the literacy test? Come to the English Junior Help Room every Thursday lunchtime in V13. It’s open to Year 9 and 10 students.
It’s a low-pressure space where you can get help from Izzy Fogarty (12KG), a group of supportive senior students, and English teachers. Whether you need help planning or just want to talk through an idea, we’re here to help.
Bring your lunch, your Chromebook and whatever you’re working on. Stay for 20 minutes or the whole break. No sign-ups. No stress.
EPro8 Challenge
Staff contact – Dylan Goldsmith (dylan.goldsmith@hvhs.school.nz)
The EPro8 Challenge is a fast paced science and engineering competition for students in Years 9-10, designed to promote science, engineering and problem solving. Each year, Hutt Valley High School has teams participating in the EPro8 Challenge.
If you’re interested in joining an EPro8 team, information will be shared through students’ Science classes on Google Classroom.
Filmmaking Club
Staff Contact – Liv Woodmass (liv.woodmas@hvhs.school.nz)
Student Contact – Zaaki Nunnian (22053zn@hvhs.school.nz)
Interested in making movies or learning how films are created? The Filmmaking Club meets every Wednesday at lunchtime in G1.
This is a space for anyone keen to develop their filmmaking skills. More than that, it’s about bringing unique talents together to create something remarkable. Don’t worry about making mistakes, we’re here to learn and embrace the journey. Students from all year levels are welcome to join. Regular attendance at this club also counts towards Ad Alta.
48 Hour Film Competition
Staff Contacts – Ioanna Koroniadis-Armishaw (ioanna.koroniadis@hvhs.school.nz) and Liv Woodmass (liv.woodmass@hvhs.school.nz)
The 48 Hour Film competition is an annual event that is New Zealand’s largest guerrilla filmmaking competition. The competition is designed to provide opportunities for emerging student filmmakers to make short films in an environment that encourages innovation, creative risk-taking, and builds long term collaborations and community.
In 2025, the HVHS For the Wings team took home the coveted Best School Team award with their film ‘Dream Girl.AI‘. Their impressive work was screened at the Embassy Theatre alongside 14 other adult finalists to a packed audience, who responded enthusiastically to the students’ hard work and creative vision.
Green Fingers Horticultural Club
Staff contact – Richard Edwards (richard.edwards@hvhs.school.nz)
The club meets Friday lunchtimes in the Horticulture Area. Students prepare and plant winter crops in Term 1 (broccoli, lettuce, radishes, broad beans, potatoes, silverbeet, cabbages, and more) and summer crops in Term 4 (including corn and strawberries), harvesting as they go. Members also make full use of our raised beds, tool shed, and glasshouse.
HVHS Boarding House (Skateboarding)
Staff contact – Aston Banks (aston.banks@hvhs.school.nz)
The HVHS Boarding House is open to all year levels and skateboarding skill levels. They meet on Thursday lunchtimes to practise skateboarding on the netball courts by St Alban’s Grove. An ollie/manual/grind pad is available, and the plan is to add more features over time to give students a wider range of skills to practise.
The HVHS Boarding House is a great place to hang out with students who have similar interests, and there is an opportunity for competitions later in the year for anyone who is keen. Regular attendance counts towards Ad Alta.
HVHS Fusion Club (for New Migrants & Former Refugee Students)
Staff Contact – Sarah Roper (sarah.roper@hvhs.school.nz)
The wonderful youth workers from Ignite will come in on Tuesday lunchtime in D1 for weekly mentoring, and relationship building for former refugee students and new migrant students. Day trips are also run, one per term, where students are taken out into the community for activities (sports and games). Everyone is welcome.
HVHS Wheelies
Staff contact – Joel Green (joel.green@hvhs.school.nz)
The HVHS Wheelers is open to all year levels. The only prerequisite students have an appropriate bicycle e.g. gravel bike, cyclocross bike, hardtail mountain bike, road or flat bar bike that can accommodate wide(ish) tires.
The group meets on Thursdays after school, weather permitting, for rides along the river trail, most often up to Silverstream and back. Occasionally, bikes are taken by trailer further north to explore additional sections of the trail. In Terms 2 and 3, the focus shifts to Cyclocross, with students encouraged to enter the Hutt Cyclocross Series (students must arrange their own transport to events). By Term 4, riders may be ready for a major adventure such as the Big Coast Ride, or part of it, which could include an overnight component.
The group is informal however for students with regular attendance it does count towards Ad Alta. A brief check‑in is held on Wednesdays at intervals in B18 to confirm whether Thursday’s ride will go ahead based on weather conditions. If riding, the group meets at 3.30pm under the library.
Kapa Haka
Staff contact – Matua Paul Morris (paul.morris@hvhs.school.nz)
Te Rōpū Kapa Haka o Te Awakairangi is the Hutt Valley High School Kapa Haka. The group is comprised of students from Years 9-13 and is open to all students from all cultures. The group will meet in F1 with the start date for Term 1, 2026 to be confirmed.
Latin Club
Staff Contact – Robyn Lantsbury (Robyn.Lantsbury@hvhs.school.nz)
Student Contact – Kiri Clendon (23057kc@hvhs.school.nz)
Interested in learning Latin? Come join our Latin study group in B20 on Wednesday lunchtimes!
At Latin Club students share resources, critique each other’s work and talk to like-minded people in a chill and focused environment. Open to all year levels and complete beginners welcome
Literature Group (Years 11-13)
Staff Contact – Corey Spence (corey.spence@hvhs.school.nz)
Senior Literature Group is a weekly English enrichment group for senior students who are avid readers and want to discuss books and reading (and probably the world we live in).
This group is open to students in Years 11-13. Participating in the Senior Literature Group counts as an extracurricular for Ad Alta. Come along to V22, lunchtime on Tuesdays (starting Week 4 – Tuesday, 17 February) to try it out!
Students may also be interested in joining the Writing Club (see details on this page).
Mahjong Club
Staff contact – Yanling Guo (yanling.guo@hvhs.school.nz)
Learn and play mahjong every Wednesday at lunchtime in D1. Mahjong was developed in the 19th century in China and is a tile-based game played by four players.
Also running at the same time and in the same room is the Chinese Chess Club. Both clubs count towards Ad Alta.
Come along and join in. It will be fun!
Maths Help Room
Staff contact – Jill Skinner (jill.skinner@hvhs.school.nz)
Maths Help Room runs from 3:30-4:30pm every Wednesday after school in P6. Students receive individualised help from Hutt Valley High School’s fantastic Maths teachers. Students can bring their own work or our Maths teachers can help them find work. Maths Help is open to all year levels and abilities. No bookings are necessary, students are welcome to just show up.
Music Ensembles & Lessons
Staff Contact – Jhan Lindsay (music@hvhs.school.nz)
For the latest information on the music ensembles and lessons offered at HVHS please check the G Block Music Noticeboard.
Pasifika Group
Staff contact – Artika Sharma (artika.sharma@hvhs.school.nz)
The Pasifika Group meets in S2 on Tuesday lunchtimes. Students focus on learning new items for performances at school events and events such as HuttFest. The aim of the Pasifika Group is to make Pacific Island cultures more visible.
Philosophy Club
Staff contacts – Jill Skinner (jill.skinner@hvhs.school.nz) & Paul Christeller (paul.christeller@hvhs.school.nz)
The Philosophy Club meets every Friday at lunchtime in the V4. It’s open to all year levels and no prior knowledge of philosophy is required. What is Philosophy? It is the study of the fundamental nature of reality, knowledge, morality and logic. At Philosophy Club students hang out, discuss and debate a range of issues like – is the world a simulation, is corporal punishment unethical, or what is truth. Regular attendance at this club also counts for Ad Alta.
Queer Straight Alliance (QSA)
Staff contacts – Jill Skinner (jill.skinner@hvhs.school.nz)
The QSA meets every Thursday lunchtime in P6. The QSA is for students who identify as queer including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, asexual, takatapui, fa’afafine, intersex and gender non-conforming students. We also have many cisgender, straight allies who are here to support their friends. Our aim is to provide a social space, a support network, and to work together to make our school and wider community more inclusive for students of gender and sexual minorities.
Rock n Roll Dance
Staff contact – Matua Paul Morris (paul.morris@hvhs.school.nz)
The Rock n Roll Dance group meets on Tuesdays at 3.30pm and Wednesday lunchtimes in the S1 or S2 Dance room. The aim of the students involved is to participate and compete at the Hutt Valley Rock n Roll Club Champs and the Regional Championships.
Rockquest
Staff contact – Jhan Lindsay (music@hvhs.school.nz)
Rockquest is a nationwide, live, original music competition designed to give young musicians the opportunity to perform in a professional setting. In 2025, two HVHS bands, In 2025, two HVHS bands competed at Rockquest in the Wellington heats, Stained Glass and Triple01 qualified for the Rockquest regional finals as one of the top 12 bands in Wellington.
For more information, visit the Rockquest website
Science Help Room
Staff Contact – Kylie Miller (kylie.miller@hvhs.school.nz)
Science Helproom runs every Thursday after school in B11 from 3:30 to 4:30pm. All students are welcome to drop in for help from a range of teachers, or to use the time to work through homework.
Showquest
Staff contact – Anna Flaherty (anna.flaherty@hvhs.school.nz)
Open to all year levels, keep an eye out in Term 1 for information on auditioning for Showquest.
In 2024, sixty-five dancers from Hutt Valley High School spent the day at St James Theatre showcasing their creativity at the Wellington Showquest event. The HVHS team placed second overall for the Wellington Region and received several additional awards: Best Choreography, Best Props, Highly Commended Theme and Highly Commended Lighting.
To learn more about Showquest, visit their website
Photo credit: Showquest
Skateboarding Group
Please see HVHS Boarding House for more information.
Stitch in Time
Staff contacts – Annette Inglis (annette.inglis@hvhs.school.nz) & Sarah Robbins (sarah.robbins@hvhs.school.nz)
A group for all things needles & stitching – knitting, crochet, embroidery and basic hand sewing including buttons, mending and hemming. Come along and learn a new skill or get help with a project. Stitch in Time meets Monday lunchtimes in B10.
Tangata Beats
Staff Contact – Grace Wright (grace.wright@hvhs.school.nz)
Tangata Beats is an annual nationwide competition that celebrates original youth music and reflects the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific. In 2025, the HVHS group Pasifika Love won the Wellington regional final of the competition.
For more information, visit the Tangata Beats website
Theatre Sports
Staff contact – Anna Flaherty (anna.flaherty@hvhs.school.nz)
Student contact – Kiri Clendon (23057kc@hvhs.school.nz)
Our Theatre Sports Club meets every Friday at lunchtime in the E5 drama room. Students get involved in a variety of drama games, learn improvisation (and that it’s fun) and the rules of Theatre Sports, and gain confidence as they work in teams of four making things up on the spot. Regular attendance also contributes to Ad Alta.
The focus of the club is on creating a relaxed space where students can banter, share a laugh, think on their feet, and have fun getting their creative juices flowing. The club is open to all students and you’re welcome to come along to watch or get involved slowly with a non-speaking part.
Trans & Non-Binary Group
Staff contact – Jill Skinner (jill.skinner@hvhs.school.nz)
The purpose of this group is to help support gender diverse students, allow them to support each other with more targeted advice relevant to their transitions and to discuss changes needed within the school to further support trans and non-binary students.
While facilitated by Jill Skinner, the group is primarily led by its student members. The group meets every Tuesday lunchtime in P6. New members are welcome – just turn up.
Writing Club
Staff contacts – Kate MacManus (kate.macmanus@hvhs.school.nz) & Olive Shadbolt (olive.shadbolt@hvhs.school.nz)
Writing Club meets weekly on Friday Lunchtimes in V14. Open to all year groups and levels of ability. We run skills workshops, peer sharing and feedback, facilitate independent and collaborative writing projects, and provide a space for prompted and free writing. Regular attendance counts towards Ad Alta.
Students in Years 11–13 may also be interested in joining the Literature Group (see details on this page).
Youth UN (United Nations)
Staff contact – Tim Webster (tim.webster@hvhs.school.nz )
Student contact – Katrina Schaff-Ede (22074ks@hvhs.school.nz)
The group at meets to help organise logistics when events are posted from time to time from the President of UN (United Nations) Youth New Zealand.
The aim is to connect young people with a broad range of international and domestic talking points and help them develop confidence in their own beliefs and abilities. Youth UN run a number of local and national civic simulation-based events designed to showcase the role of international and domestic civic’s bodies in shaping a range of different policy areas.
This group is open to all year levels. Note, attendance at Youth UN events make require students to catch public transport into Wellington for events.
Please contact student organiser, Katrina Schaff-Ede at 22074ks@hvhs.school.nz for more information.
