Congratulations to Aquinas College poets Chloe Oosthuizen and Daisy Kim, who took top honours in this year’s Battle of Te Ranga poetry competition!
Daisy (Year 8) won the Junior Section, while Chloe claimed victory in the Senior Category — an impressive back-to-back win for the Year 9 student. Both receive book vouchers for their achievements.
The annual poetry competition is held to raise awareness of the Battle of Te Ranga and its historical significance. Daisy wrote her poem from the perspective of a gravedigger, while Chloe’s entry portrayed a soldier’s experience — from the march into battle and to his comrades dying around him.
Chloe was invited to recite her poem at the 161st Commemoration of the Battle of Te Ranga, held on June 21. Aquinas College was honoured to be part of the event, with students, staff, and whānau attending the dawn ceremony. The college hosted a reception for all attendees afterwards.
For Daisy, this was her first time entering the poetry contest — but it’s not her only literary win this year. She recently won Round One of the 2025 Great Kiwi Write Off! Competition for her Year 7–8 story on daylight saving, judged by some of New Zealand’s top authors. She’s now hard at work on her Round Two entry — watch this space!