Extra Curricular Activities

By OBHS | Posted: Monday October 20, 2025

It is fun and rewarding to improve, whether in sports, music or cultural experiences. Improvement will be fast-tracked by attending all scheduled practices and games/productions. Results will follow.

Because of the value we place on students’ involvement in activities outside the classroom, ie sports teams, music and cultural activities, it is important they are reminded of the requirements to ensure they have a worthwhile and enjoyable experience and their coaches and teachers do also.

It is crucial students fulfil their attendance requirements. If a student signs up for an activity, it is for the whole activity, not just part of it. Planned team or individual practice times become a priority. Please try, wherever possible, to plan appointment times around practices and encourage students not to work on days when their activity falls. This can be difficult, but the coaches and teachers have organised their time around the activity. Only an unforeseeable urgent matter should prevent fulfilment of attendance responsibility, in which case a prior personal explanation to the teacher/coach concerned is an expected courtesy. Messages should not be sent through other students. We encourage self-responsibility - an invaluable life-long skill.

Please remind your child that extra-curricular activities are offered to them by teachers/coaches in their own time, for no additional payment, to provide students with further opportunities. We hope students will respect that and fulfil their responsibilities. 

Students are invited to take part in the following extra-curricular activities:

We have a number of musical groups for the boys to choose from:

• Chamber Music

  A smaller ensemble where you can team up with other students of similar ability to take part in performances and the Chamber Music Contest.

• Choir

  We have our OBHS choir, Mandate, and our combined choir, Fortress, made of Otago Boys’ and Otago Girls’ students and led by the experienced choir director, John Buchanan. We perform throughout the year at concerts, open nights, and showcases, as well as the main event, The Big Sing. 

• Jazz Band

  Led by Dr Will Martin, our jazz bands: the All Blues and the Minor Blues, perform at a high level and have achieved plenty of success at  regional and national competitions. 

• Orchestra

  The combined Otago Boys’ and Otago Girls’ orchestra, led by the very experience Sinclair McLaren, is a great opportunity for newcomers and more experienced musicians to perform in a larger ensemble throughout the year.

• Rockquest

  The Rockquest is a fantastic opportunity to create a band with your mates and perform with professional equipment in amazing venues.

Chess is a popular lunchtime activity with the School Championships being played in Term 1. Our teams compete in regional competitions. 

Darts is a regular lunchtime activity with annual Junior and Senior trophies awarded.

Debating/Public Speaking 

• Training/interschool and national competitions

Duke of Edinburgh is an opportunity for boys to participate in the internationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award scheme. There are four core components: Service, Skill, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. Students aged 14 can start on the bronze award, with direct entry to silver and gold awards possible at 15 to 16 years respectively.

Kapa Haka - Wairua Pūhou is our combined Otago Girls’ and Otago Boys’ kapa haka and is open to any students in Years 9 – 13, Māori and non-Māori. We do a range of different performances throughout the year often competing in competitions. Wairua Pūhou gives students the opportunity to learn and practice te reo me ngā tikānga Māori (the Māori language and culture).

Pacific Island Cultural Group

School Production

•  Performance

•  Lighting

•  Sound

•  Set design

•  Backstage and front of house

Theatre Sports -an increased number of our boys are taking part in a local Secondary Schools Theatre Sports group which meets regularly at different schools.

Otago Boys' has an amazing array of sports on offer for students to participate in:

• Athletics

• Badminton

• Basketball

• Chess

• Clay Target

• Cricket

• Cross Country/Road Racing

• Cycling (Track or Road)

• Curling

• Darts

• Football

• Futsal

• Golf

• Handball

• Hockey

• Ice Hockey

• Indoor climbing

• Ki O Rahi

• Mountain Biking

• Orienteering

• Rowing

• Rugby

• Rugby League

• Sailing

• Smallbore

• Softball

• Squash

• Surfing

• Swimming

• Tennis

• Touch

• Triathlon/Duathlon

• Ultimate Frisbee

• Volleyball

• Waterpolo

Below is attached instructions on how to use the Otago Boys' Sporty App.