2026 Smokefree Rockquest Success
UPDATE: GRIZZLYFISH have made it through to the National Finals!
This is a huge achievement for the band and Ōtūmoetai College, who have had 5 national final acts over the past 6 years. The students are George Cowan, Adam Sushames, Caleb Friar, Jude Chua, and Damian Mazzutti.
Ōtūmoetai College has shown extraordinary success in the 2026 Smokefree Rockquest competition, with 5 bands and 1 solo act making it through to the Bay of Plenty Regional Finals – Grizzlyfish, Technical Difficulties, Hang Time, and HeadSpins, as well as the multi-school collaboration Pipeline Punks and George Cowan – SOLO’s.
Standing out against tough regional competition across the Bay of Plenty, these acts showcased the school’s high calibre of musicianship and thriving creative environment on stage at Totara St.
These groups then submitted dedicated audio and video recordings of their original material for review, with GRIZZLYFISH (who took first place overall in the region) and George Cowan (Solo’s) now progressing into the nationwide Top20 out of more than 1,000 entries across New Zealand.
The final 8 Bands to make the National Finals were announced this afternoon. These bands will perform in Wellington, competing for a prize pool valued at over $60,000 from the Rockshop NZ and NZ On Air.
Junior Art Exhibition Opening Tonight
You are warmly invited to celebrate the creativity and talent of our Year 9 and 10 artists at the Ōtūmoetai College Junior Art Exhibition.
Opening Night – Friday, 31 July, 5:30 pm
The People’s Gallery, The Historic Village, 17th Avenue, Tauranga
Join us for the official opening as we celebrate the outstanding artwork created by our junior students. The evening is a wonderful opportunity to support our young artists and see their work displayed in a professional gallery setting.
Food and refreshments will be provided, and the opening night will also feature the launch of three other exhibitions across The Incubator Creative Hub, making it a fantastic evening to explore the vibrant local arts community.
If you can’t make the opening, the exhibition will be on display from 31 July until 22 August, so there will be plenty of opportunities to visit with family and friends.
Stitched Runway Fashion Show
A big congratulations to these students who took part in this upcycled event at the Cargo Shed last Saturday. They had a great time designing; creating and problem solving ways to reduce waste for the planet. Also, they had a lot of FUN!
They had 1 month to create an outfit from preloved garments from Turning point which Environhub had collected. They worked really hard and did this through the school holidays too.
Group Entry Yr10:
Georgia Limmer (modelled)
Isla O’Donoghue
Anna Kappel
Peyton Gwatkin
Individual Entry Yr10:
Elise Fairweather
Individual Entry Yr11:
Julz Rodgers (modelled)
YES Students – Tauranga Food Show – 15 & 16 August
Ōtūmoetai college has four Year 12/13 Business Studies/Young Enterprise groups exhibiting at the Tauranga Food Show on the 15th & 16th August at Mercury Arena, Baypark.
Come on down and see what they have to offer and support them by following their social media account, sharing their business with friends/family or better yet – purchasing a unit or two of their innovative products.
Tauranga Food Show times:
Saturday 15th August 10:00am – 5:00 pm
Sunday 16th August 10:00am – 4:00 pm
Follow the link HERE for more info and to see what tickles your fancy out of 150 stalls and food trucks.
Buzzbites.
Have you ever felt the need for a buzz before a workout at the gym? Look no further, we are Buzzbites, a caffeine-free, creatine, pre-workout energy gummy based in Tauranga. We are a Y13 Ōtūmoetai College Business Studies group under the Young Enterprise scheme, looking to fill this gap in the market.
Find out more about Buzzbites. HERE
Portion Pal
Portion Pal is a student run business through the Young Enterprise Scheme. It is a simple, sustainable kitchen tool designed to reduce food waste and make cooking easier, by measuring accurate spaghetti portions for individuals, families and more. Portion Pal helps save time, money and food – delivering perfect pasta portions every time. Our slogan is measure once, waste less, serve smart with Portion Pal. You can find us on our social media platforms at Portion Pal we would love it if you could follow us to support our business!
Find out more about Portion Pal HERE
Kiwi Protein
Kiwi protein is revolutionising the protein market in NZ by creating high-quality, uniquely flavoured protein powder that stands out from the usual competitors. We focus on locally crafted protein powder made from 100% New Zealand ingredients with unique flavours including Pineapple, Raspberry, and Mixed Berry. Our products combine superior taste with great nutritional value, making us a convenient yet enjoyable choice for those with an active lifestyle. At Kiwi Protein, our aim is to create a brand that represents innovation, freshness, and a distinctly Kiwi Identity, appealing not only to fitness enthusiasts but also to anyone looking to make healthier dietary decisions without cutting back on the flavour.
Find out more about Kiwi Protein HERE
Bottle Refresh
Bottle refresh is committed to making a drink bottle cleaning spray that is 100% chemical free with the use of natural ingredients. Our drink bottle cleaning spray is sustainable for the environment as it can break down more easily in water systems as opposed to other products with harmful chemicals. We as athletes have both come across the problem of a moldy dirty drink bottle multiple times, and the pain it is to try and clean in all the crevasses to have a fully clean lid. When in the process of trying to clean we want our product to be fit for purpose but also ensure that we aren’t ingesting any nasties, which is why our product is chemical free.
Find out more about Bottle Refresh HERE
SVA Foodbank Drive – 5th-18th August
Health Guidance for Parents & Caregivers
Guidance for parents and caregivers from Health New Zealand: Te Whatu Ora – Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school.
Going to school every day is important for all school aged tamariki (children). It helps build their confidence, social skills, and achieve their education and life ambitions. In the winter months, coughs, colds, allergies, viruses, as well as respiratory infections can unfortunately be a common occurrence.
This LINK helps you decide when it is okay to send your child to school, when you should keep your child at home, and when you should contact a health professional for advice.
