Not one competitor was smiling.
The Kings High School pupils were taking part in the annual inter-house haka competition.
It involved four houses. Criteria included house participation, timing of movements, good performance of the actions and impact.
Each house had practised for about seven weeks.
Stuart house won, beating Tudor (2nd) Windsor (3rd) and Hanover (4th).
Kaea (leader) of Stuart house's haka Regan Gray (18) was almost speechless following the win.
"It was amazing.
"I'm lost for words," he said.
Stuart house had the mana of winning and earned points towards the year-long inter-house competition - the winner of which takes the house shield, principal Dan Reddiex said.
Judging the haka were Highlanders Ben Smith, Stephen Setephano and Paul Grant, Kings High School board of trustees member Marty Gray and kaumatua from the Otakou Marae Jim Williams.
- Cerisse Denhardt.
