Five Dunedin high schools competed in front of about 500 people at the Edgar Centre.
The winning performance critiqued the issue of animal extinction through taxidermist collections based in an environment similar to Otago Museum's Animal Attic.
The plight of the South Island kokako was the focus of the performance.
Columba College gained second place for their performance exploring domestic violence.
St Hilda's Collegiate School was third for its contribution, ''The loss of the Maori language''.
Stage Challenge event manager Shanell Bielawa said she was impressed by the calibre of performances.
''Our show in Dunedin was an incredible showcase of creativity and expression.
''You can see all the hard work and determination that has gone into their performances.''
The pupils impressed as they pirouetted, skipped and cartwheeled across the stage.
Seven Kings High School boys dressed as women received loud hoots of support from the crowd.
Now in its 25th year, the event continued to focus on encouraging high school pupils to avoid drugs and alcohol and be creative.
The Dunedin show was the first of 13 throughout New Zealand.
Two hundred schools, 16,000 participants and about 25,000 audience members are expected to be involved.
