The humanities at Nga Tawa are an essential ingredient for creating balanced and cultivated young women. Our programmes seek to nurture creativity and enrich the lives of students through individual expression. Sporting Houses provide an enjoyable and interactive environment for students to perform and compete in many disciplines such as music, drama and photography.

Music

Students entering Nga Tawa are encouraged to begin or continue their musical education, with many students achieving high grades in a wide range of music disciplines. Private tuition is available in Piano, Keyboard, Singing, Classical and Electric Guitar, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Base, Brass instruments and Percussion.
Each year, groups participate in the Chamber Music Contest and Rockquest. Our Chapel Choir performs at concerts and assists at weddings held in the School Chapel. Con Brio the “all comers” school choir, for which no audition is required. A Chamber Choir offers further experience in a smaller choral ensemble.

Visual Arts

Nga Tawa’s dynamic visual arts programme attracts students from Year 9 to Year 13. Art disciplines include core Art, Painting, Design, Photography, Printmaking and Art History. Our McCall Gallery, two dark rooms, a photography and design suite and senior painting studio combine to create as spacious and well-equiped environment in which to create, display and celebrate student art work.

Dance and Drama

New students can continue with or learn Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop and / or Ballroom Dancing at Nga Tawa. A Dance instructor visits the school during flexitime twice a week, based in the Events Centre. Drama is integrated into the curriculum at Years 9 and 10 as well as forming part of an after school programme on
Tuesdays. Senior students compete in Stage Challenge and Shakespeare Competitions.

Speech Lessons

Quality public speaking and communication skills are highly valued at Nga Tawa with a high percentage of students learning Speech at the School. A strong culture of public speaking exists, with many new entrants via independent primary schools having already achieved to grade five NZ Speech Board honours.

Debating

The School’s history of Debating reflects a commitment to excellence, with many debaters selected for the NZ secondary school’s debating teams over past years.