Sports at Karamu High School
Karamu High School offers girls and boys at all levels of the school the opportunity to be involved in a wide variety of sporting activities.
There are plenty of opportunities for those who perform well at the various activities. In addition Karamu also caters for students who would like to take up a new activity or who enjoy just participating.
Additional sporting activities are started according to students needs and interests.
Sport Practices
All winter sports teams have practices on Thursday during the school day. The students enjoy these practices which allow them to practice their skills and team tactics.
Sports Exchanges
We endeavour to give our students sporting opportunities other than local competitions. Our traditional summer and winter sports exchanges are with Kapiti College on the Kapiti Coast and Lytton College in Gisborne. 1st teams for soccer, hockey and netball, all attend national tournaments.
Sport Uniforms
All of the sports teams at Karamu have their own uniform. The uniforms are owned by the school and used by the players. Students playing a particular sport are charged a small fee that also covers the use of the uniform and costs associated with that particular sport.
Cricket
Karamu offers both Boys and Girls Cricket, allowing students to play at the level that best suits their ability. The Girls Competition is played on weekday evenings and the Boys on Saturdays. Practices are held at the school nets during lunchtimes, and after school. Staff members and parents work together to ensure that students interested in cricket are well catered for at Karamu.
Golf
Karamu enters students in the Inter-School Golf Tournament. Lessons are available through a local Golf Club. Karamu runs a series of tournaments for the students. They are very well coached by a former pro circuit player and current staff member Mr Mallory.
Athletics & Cross Country
Students interested in developing their skills in Athletics at Karamu will receive group support and individual guidance as they develop their training programmes. Students are encouraged to get involved in the regular Inter-School Secondary Schools summer competition. A number of our Karamu students have performed very well at both regional and national level.
Canoe Polo
Canoe Polo is very popular at Karamu. Players enjoy the skills, teamwork and competition that this exhilarating sport offers. Our teams are coached and managed by competent teachers and parents. Karamu has consistently had a number of teams qualify for National Secondary Schools Canoe Polo Championships with each year several of the Karamu teams receiving Medals. Out of the four divisions at the Canoe Polo Nationals this year, Karamu won three gold medals. A number of Karamu students have also been Hawkes Bay Canoe Polo Representatives, and a few have reached New Zealand Representative level.
Tennis
There are Inter-School competitions for both Juniors and Seniors for Boys and Girls. All students have the opportunity of being part of a Tennis team that plays in the Secondary Schools competition on Tuesdays after school. In addition, play-offs take place to determine the Boys and Girls Junior and Senior championships.
Touch
Touch is very strong and popular at Karamu. Our Girls teams have performed very credibly this year and have been the Regional Champions in the past. Both the Junior and Senior Boys teams played with credible results in the Secondary Schools competitions, with the Senior Boys making it through to the Regional Zone Tournament.
Triathlon
At Karamu students participate in local and national competitions both as individuals or as part of a team. A lot of students attempt their first triathlon as members of a team before attempting to compete in a triathlon as an individual. All students are welcome to take part.
Rugby
Rugby numbers are increasing at Karamu and we are developing a strong base in Boys and Girls Rugby at all levels. All teams play in the local Hawkes Bay Secondary Schools competition and enter into the Regional tournaments when playing strength and ability allows. Former Hawkes Bay Sevens coach, Tom Blake and former Hawkes Bay Senior coach, Wayne Wooster, both take an active role within our school Rugby system.
Hockey
Karamu has both Boys and Girls teams entered in the local Hawkes Bay Secondary Inter-School competition. Games take place in the early evening on particular week nights. Our own artificial surface greatly enhances Hockey here at Karamu. All teams are well equipped and supported by members of staff or qualified coaches/managers from within our community. The schools Sports Coordinator, Mr Todd Astill coaches the boys teams and is also the current HB U18 Boys Coach who recently won the national tournament. HB Girls U15 coach Mr Iain Taylor takes the girls teams. This year Karamu has a number of students in Hawkes bay representative teams.
Netball
Karamu Netball teams give opportunities for girls at all year levels in the school to play. Playing numbers have increased over the past few seasons to 14 teams, this includes the Senior A team who compete in the top grade played at Pettigrew Green Arena. Each year a number of Karamu Netball students gain representative honours for Hawkes Bay.
Soccer
Karamu has both Boys and Girls Soccer teams. These teams allow students at any form level the opportunity to play. The Boys Soccer teams play in the Secondary Schools competition on Saturdays and the Girls team play during the week. Karamu Soccer teams have been performing well, under the guidance of dedicated and enthusiastic coaches.
Basketball
Basketball has a strong tradition at Karamu, with all teams performing well at Local, Regional and National Levels. Under the watchful eye of former New Zealand Under 23 representative, Byron Crawford, the tradition continues. Competition games are on Friday evenings. Over the years, Karamu students have been rewarded for their hard work and determination by gaining selection to representative teams.
Orienteering
Karamu High School has developed an excellent record in this code, winning four titles in 2008 at the New Zealand Secondary School Nationals. There are three main Orienteering competitions each year: North Island, Hawkes Bay School Championships and the New Zealand Secondary School Nationals.
Clay Target Shooting
Teams are entered into the local Secondary Schools competition. Karamu students are competing well at both Regional and National events with current Year 13 student Alannah Withers winning the 2010 North Island Championships.
Badminton
Badminton is available to all students. Year 9 students are very welcome to play in the school teams. Boys Inter-School Badminton competitions are on Tuesday and Girls on Thursday. The number of students playing Badminton continues to increase. Karamu has a number of teams entered in every grade of the competition. Over the last few years Karamu teams have been successful in winning their grades. Karamu students have also been successful in the specially organised singles and doubles competitions.
Squash
Boys and Girls Squash is held on Mondays after school. Racquets and balls are available from school for games and lunchtime practice.
Volleyball
Anyone interested in playing volleyball has the opportunity at Karamu. Both Junior and Senior teams play in inter-school competitions.
