Welcoming Week — National Schools Competition
Welcoming Week is a time to celebrate how communities work to be a welcoming place for all. This competition invites students from primary through to secondary school to showcase their creativity and compassion by designing projects that celebrate diversity and promote inclusion.
National Schools Competition
In 2025, Immigration New Zealand with the support of Welcoming Communities coordinators, local councils and the Ministry of Education launched a national schools competition to support student participation in Welcoming Week.
The competition encourages students to share their stories of connection, collaboration, and community which provides an opportunity for schools to amplify their student voice while reinforcing inclusive values. Students from primary school through to secondary school are invited to showcase their creativity and compassion by designing projects that celebrate diversity and promote inclusion. Whether through art, a poem, rap or video – your students' voices matter.
Check out the 2026 finalists and national winners below.
Primary school overall winner 2026
Together we belong
"Every child in the school painted a handprint which was glued to form New Zealand and the Pacific Ocean around us. We also made a uniform, paper cut-out coloured in the national flag or dress of our original country. We have over 15 countries and languages represented in our school population and we celebrate them all to help students feel a sense of belonging."
St Matthews Primary School – Hastings
Handprints, flags and cultures come together to show that everyone belongs at St Matthews Primary School.
Primary school regional finalists 2026
Together we belong
"Growing together as friends while celebrating our unique languages”
Hamilton West School - Hamilton
Students came together to create this artwork celebrating belonging. Different languages surround a growing tree, reflecting the friendships and cultures that make the Hamilton West School community strong.
Students stand beside a collaborative fingerprint tree artwork celebrating participation and belonging.
Intermediate school overall winner 2026
A Shared Melody
Entry by: Elle R
Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate
Intermediate school regional finalists 2026
The Land of the Long White Cloud
Entry by: Meher M
Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate
A Tapestry of Nations
Entry by: Ilahah M
Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate
Kiwi Bites – Global hearts – Together we belong!
Entry by: Jeff Jo V, Garaad A, Benicio B.C
“This poem celebrates friendships, cultural identity, and inclusion, where sharing food brings people together!”
Te Aratai Intermediate students
Secondary school overall winner 2026
Everyone's different, everyone belongs
Entry by: Nelson College for Girls - Cultural Committee
Nelson College for Girls
Secondary school regional finalists 2026
A Letter to New Zealand
Entry by: Sarai F, Jefferson P.D, Saloni P, Ina Zaria M
“No matter where life takes us, the belonging we found in New Zealand will stay in our hearts forever!”
Te Aratai College
Together we belong, He Whanau Kotahi Tatou
Entry by: Umar S.A
Riccarton High School
Our journey to Aotearoa
Entry by: Sarah A.A, Bwebwetaake B, Saadiyo M.I, Noela T, Rabunateatu I, Meritebwa M
Te Haikura ā Kiwa
A huge congratulations to all our amazing entrants!
We are absolutely blown away by the passion, energy, creativity, and dedication shown by every student, school, and community that took part in this year’s competition. Your ideas, stories, and messages of belonging inspired us, and we are so grateful for the enthusiasm you brought to this special initiative.
Ka mau te wehi to our regional finalists across the primary, intermediate, and secondary school categories. Your incredible efforts beautifully reflected this year’s theme, Together We Belong, and demonstrated the many ways we can create inclusive, connected communities where everyone feels welcome.
A heartfelt thank you to all the schools, teachers, whānau, and councils who supported the inaugural National Schools Competition. Your commitment to participating, spreading the word, and championing unity within your schools is helping to build a stronger, more welcoming Aotearoa. By encouraging understanding, respect, and connection, you are showing what it truly means to belong and helping to create environments where every student feels seen, valued, and included.
Congratulations to our first place winners in each category for their outstanding submissions. Through your creativity, thoughtfulness, and powerful messages of inclusion, you brought the theme Together We Belong to life. You demonstrated how schools can help create communities where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and connected.