Other

Chess is an age-old game of strategy, tactics, and logical thinking. If you have never played before, we would be more than happy to teach you the rules and help you learn some strategy. If you already know the game, come along for a challenge or even just fun.

Who can join: All students

When: Thursday at 1st Break in LB1 (Library).

Event: We attend various chess competitions throughout the year, including individual and team tournaments. These are both regional and national.

Cost: There is no cost to come along on Thursdays. Competitions are often $16 per person.

Students are welcome our Chinese Club, where students will prepare for the Wellington Chinese Bridge Speech Competition which is organised by the Confucius Institute of Victoria University of Wellington. Students will also prepare for the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) test, which is an international examination that assesses proficiency in Chinese language and culture.

Who can join: All students

When: Time to be confirmed for 2026

Event: Speech Competition and HSK test

Cost: Nil

Teacher in charge: Mr Tim Sutherland

Christian group is held once a week on Mondays. We get together, play some games, chat about our weeks, and will have a topic or study to discuss each week. If you’ve been wanting to make Christian friends, or even if you’re just curious what it’s all about, this is for you.

Who can join: Anyone – you do not have to be Christian!

When: Mondays at 1st break in the C4 breakout room

Cost: None

This is an opportunity for students to cook and compete in a commercial kitchen environment, designing and refining recipes and presenting them to quality restaurant standard.

Who can join: Any Senior student with a passion for cooking.

When: Practices are variable depending on the nature of the competition.

Event: Local, regional and national competitions. Dishes are usually entrees based upon a particular vegetable, omelettes, cupcakes and cheesecakes.

Cost: Usually no charge.

Debating enables students to learn the art of persuasion, research skills and public speaking skills. Our school teams prepare to compete in regional, and national tournaments.

Who can join: All Students (students may also be interested in adjudicating)

When: Meet weekly during interval.

Events:
Regional and National competitions.
The Central North Island Regional Competition is run over a weekend in March or April.
The Manawatu Secondary Schools Debating runs debates on Saturday/Sunday through terms 2 and 3 (approx twice a term).
Participation is optional.
Students are welcome to attend just the school club.

Cost: Minimal – contribution to entry and transport costs.

Whanganui High School provides the opportunity for students to gain the Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Students work on four sections at each level; Skills, Service, Physical Recreation and an Adventurous Project. The first three sections are completed by students independently out of school time and the Adventurous Project section is organised by staff as a group activity.

Who can join: Students from the ages of 14yrs to 25yrs.

When: Registrations for any section can occur throughout the year (dependent on a student’s age). Meetings are advertised in the Daily Notices.

Events:

Bronze (14yrs+)

• Skills
• Service
• Physical Recreation
• 2 sections for 3 months and 1 section for 6 months
• Adventurous Journey 2 days/1 night

Silver (15yrs+)

• Skills
• Service
• Physical Recreation
• All 3 sections 6 months each if Bronze is completed.
• Adventurous Journey 3 days/2 nights

Gold (16yrs+)

• Skills
• Service
• Physical Recreation
• All 3 sections 12 months each if Silver is completed.
• Adventurous Journey 4 days 3 nights
• Residential Course 5 days/4 nights

Cost: Students will need to cover registration and trip costs.

The Exploration and Discovery Club provides opportunities for students to explore remote and unique places around the North Island. The point is to enjoy new sites, make new friends, laugh, practice your car karaoke and learn a little along the way. Students need to be travel hardened and be able to withstand long van trips on very windy roads.

Who can join: Year 10 to Year 13

When: Usually one trip per Term. Meetings are only held prior to our trips. Membership is open to Year 10 to 13. Trip information will be posted in the Daily Notices. Come and speak to Mr Hunter at any time for further details.

Cost: Costs range from $40 for a day trip, $150 overnight, up to $500 for longer three night trips.
All destination and number dependent.

To give students a sense of belonging at school, while being a good role model. They develop friendships with a wide range of other students and are trained to assist with a variety of library duties.

Who can join: 25 students are selected from applications at the beginning of the year

When: Form-time, first and second break time, and after school duties are available.

Events: Regular meetings and shared lunches.

Cost: Nil

We aim to encourage students to develop leadership skills by being involved in a range of team activities related to current issues in school, locally, nationally and internationally.

Who can join: All students are welcome to apply.

When: Weekly meetings held before school.

Event: There will be opportunities to be involved in a wide range of events throughout the year.

Cost: Nil

An opportunity for WHS students to become involved in the production of our annual school magazine ‘The Record’, working closely with the academic prefects. This might involve article writing, collation and photography.

Who can join: All Students

When: Term 2/3

Magic: The Gathering Club is a table top card game. The game is challenging, fun and competitive. It is a social game where a high standard of behaviour and sportsmanship is expected.

Who can join: Anyone is welcome to join.

When: We meet every Morning Break in E4.

The Mathematics Statistics Competition is held every year and it brings together a large number of teams from Secondary Schools from the Wider Whanganui, Manawatu district. Students are selected and placed into teams based on their Mathematical ability and enthusiasm for challenges. The format of the competition changes every year, but a broad range of Mathematical skills and quick thinking is a huge advantage.

Who can join: Year 12 students.

Event: M3S: Massey Manawatu Maths and Stats Competition (Massey University) at the end of Term 2.

Currently Not Available.

Model United Nations is a conference that simulates the real working of a UN assembly. Students take on a diplomatic persona, and defend the policies of the country that they are representing and they also get to discuss and learn about real international issues. The invaluable experience of learning about the factors that influence the outcome of international political deliberations will help students develop skills such as independent research skills, debating and negotiating skills, and expanding their knowledge base on international relations. So if you have an enquiring mind, enjoy intelligent conversation and like to have fun, Model UN is perfect for you.

Junior and Senior Model United Nations General Assembly Days

Who can join: Juniors = Year 9-10, Senior = Year 11-13

When: Each Model United Nations General Assembly Day is held once a year, but preparation takes about a month ahead of the assembly day.
Senior MUNS is in March, and the Junior MUNS is in November.

Cost: To be confirmed at time of event.

Regional United Nations Speech Awards

Who can join: All students

When: Meeting in Term 1. Keep an eye out in the Student Notices.
The Regional Speech Competition is usually in early April so we work on it from early March to end of April.

To encourage acceptance, raise awareness and create a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community in our school.

Who can join: Any member of the school community, as a member of LGBTQ or as an Ally.

When: To be confirmed.

Events: PRIDE month.

Cost:   Nil

Whanganui High School offers opportunities for students to self-select a voyage on the Spirit of Adventure. We can co-ordinate your enrolment and help you contact the Spirit of Adventure office. Scholarship opportunities do exist through school and sometimes through the Spirit of Adventure trust. The 5 day spirit trophy is a competition event that Whanganui High School organises when the Spirit of Adventure offer us a voyage opportunity. Please talk to us about your goals.

Who can join: Students in Year 12 and 13 can choose to take on the challenge of doing a 10 day development voyage. This is a self-funded event.

When: You select a voyage on the Spirit of Adventure website.

Event: 10 Day Development (16-18yrs) / 5 Day Spirit Trophy (Year 10)

Cost: Approx $3500 (10 day) / Approx $1000 (Y10)

The Visual Arts Club announce and encourage entry into National and Regional Art Competitions as they arise. They vary every year.

Who can join: Each competition varies, some include Junior age ranges, some are limited to Senior students.

When: During the school year.

Events: Patillo Whanganui Arts Review, Waimarino Art Awards, Taranaki Art Awards, National Youth Art Awards, NZSS Art Awards, Stills Competition, National Ringa Toi Competition.

Cost: Depending on competition, it can range from free entry to $30

Writers’ Club is a place to work on your writing, meet other writers, share your work, and get help and feedback. It is open to all ability levels and any kind of writing – fiction, non-fiction, short stories, novels, poems, scripts, and everything in between. We have new writing prompts or exercises each week.

Who can join: All students

When: Meetings are on during first break every Tuesday in G4.