Pet Day – Saturday, October 17, 2026

Saturday at a glance

Pet Day is the morning when the whole school presents its animals, baking, and growing projects on the field. Every student can take part. You do not have to enter anything to come. Bring the family, buy a sausage, and watch the parade. Animals and Deliveries Come in by the gate at the bus-bay end of Kauri Drive. Drop-off only — no parking on the field.

Key Information for Families

The Morning
7.30a.m. Gates open for animals and pens only. This is not the public opening.

8.30a.m. Open to the public.

9a.m. Judging begins. The bake sale, BBQ, food trucks and stalls open.

11a.m. Grand Parade in the horse arena. Midday Close and pack down.

Before the Day

Every date, in order:

August 14–21 Bean and pea seeds sent home. Five each.

September 8 Pet registration form released.

Monday, October 12 Baking plates come home, one per family. Pet registrations close.

Wednesday, October 14 Precious Pet Portraits entries close, 3.30p.m.

Friday, October 16 Flower Day. Bean and pea entries to the hall. Donated baking to the Hall Supper Room before 9a.m.

Saturday, October 17 Pet Day. Competition baking to the hall before 9a.m.

Enter your pet

Every student can take part — enter an animal, enter your baking, and enter one or both projects. Each one has its own page, with what to bring and what the judge looks for.

Animals — register by Monday, October 12

• Calves — Reared from a week old. Led and called.

• Lambs and Kids — Reared from a week old. Called, caught and led.

• Horses — Judged on riding, temperament and care.

• Cats — Brought in a cage or crate, supervised all morning.

• Small Animals — Rabbits, guinea pigs, mice. In a secure cage. No birds.

• Dogs — On a lead with an adult at all times.

Baking and the two projects

• Baking — Entered by year level. Made by the student.

To the hall Saturday morning

• Brilliant Beans and Perfect Peas — Grown from the seeds sent home, with a diary or project board.

To the hall Friday, October 16

• Precious Pet Portraits — A photograph of a pet, entered online. No animal needed on the day. Students, whānau and staff — past and present.

Closes Wednesday, October 14, 3.30p.m.

Register your animal

Pet registrations close Monday, October 12. The form is on the school website.

wairakeitaupo.school.nz/about-us/pet-day

Brilliant Beans and Perfect Peas

Plant the seeds that came home, grow them, and keep a record of what you did. The record matters as much as the plant.

How to prepare

Five seeds came home between August 14 and 21. Record the dates you planted, watered and measured. A diary with measurements and observations will always beat a taller plant with nothing written down.

What the judge looks for

• Growth and health — Height, greenness, overall condition. Flowering or produce.
• Care and responsibility — Evidence of regular care and attention.
• Creativity and presentation — Neat, engaging, well organised.
• Scientific thinking — Dates, measurements, graphs, observations, special care techniques.

Due Friday, October 16 — to the hall.

What to bring

• A clearly named pot, showing the room number and year level
• The diary or project board

Who grows what?

• Years 0–3 Beans
• Years 4–6 Peas

The baking competition

Two different things, two different days. Read both baking events before you bake.

Made by the student. Entered by year level.

• Years 0–1 — Pikelets, maximum three
• Years 2–3 — Iced biscuits, maximum three
• Years 4–5 — Iced cupcakes, maximum three
• Year 6 — An iced novelty cake, one only

Clearly labelled with the year level and room number.

What the judge looks for

• Creativity and presentation — Imaginative decoration, colour combinations and overall visual appeal.
• Technical skill — Appropriate texture, consistency and level of finish for the year group — even cooking, neat icing.
• Taste and flavour balance — Pleasant flavour, freshness and harmony of ingredients.
• Attention to detail — Care taken in portion size, uniformity and finishing touches.

When:
To the hall Saturday, October 17, before 9a.m.

The cake stall

 A donation, not an entry. Slice, biscuits, cupcakes or muffins work best.

• A paper plate comes home with each family on Monday, October 12 — bring the baking back on it
• Label it clearly and cover it well, for example: shortbread, gluten free

When:

To the Hall Supper Room Friday, October 16, before 9a.m.

Precious Pet Portraits

Photograph a pet, then enter online. The school does the rest.

Four steps

1    Plan it — What makes this pet unique? Will they be playing, resting, exploring, or showing off a favourite trick? Think about the background, the light and the angle before you start.

2    Take it — Any camera, tablet or phone. Use natural light where you can, keep the photograph clear and in focus, and take several before you choose your favourite. The pet must be safe and comfortable, and you need the owner’s permission if the pet is not yours.

3    Enter it online — Open the photo framer, add the photograph, and write a caption of one or two sentences saying why you chose it. No account or password is needed.

4    The school prints it — Your photograph comes back framed, by email, and goes up in the hall. wairakeitaupo.school.nz/petday-photos The form asks for a word from this booklet. The word is ROSETTE.

The four categories

What the judge looks for, at each level.

Mini Snappers — Years 0–2

One photograph of a pet. Go for fun, cute or colourful — a simple caption helps tell your pet’s story.

• Are the photographs enjoyable to look at?
• Does it capture the pet’s personality?
• Has a simple caption been included?

Junior Photographers — Years 3–4

One photograph, chosen and framed by you. Think carefully about lighting, composition and timing, and write a thoughtful caption.

• Are the photographs well-framed and in focus?
• Does it creatively showcase the pet?
• Does the caption add meaning to the photos?

Master Photographers — Years 5–6

A series of four photographs with an artist’s statement. Aim for a striking series showing creativity, strong composition and storytelling — think about emotion, action, or a special moment.

• Does the photo series demonstrate creativity and excellent composition?
• Does it tell a story or capture a unique moment?
• Does the artist’s statement enhance the viewer’s understanding of the series?

Then and Now

Who can enter?

Whānau, staff and past students

One photograph, and the story behind it. Whānau and staff, past and present, and anyone who was once a student here.

What the judge looks for:

• Is the photograph clear, and does it show the pet’s character?
• Does the writing tell us something the photograph cannot?
• Does it connect the pet to Wairakei — how they came into your life, or where you are now?
• Does the picture and the words read as one entry rather than two?

Animal Categories – Key Guidelines

Animal Judging – What Students Need to Know

Whatever animal you bring, these are the questions. Know the answers and the rest looks after itself.

• What is your animal’s name and breed?
• When was it born?
• What does it eat?
• How do you care for it?
• Can you name some body parts?
• What diseases or parasites might it get?
• How did you train it?

Calves

How to prepare

Begin daily training early. Time spent feeding and handling is what shows in the ring — a calf that is used to you will lead for you.

What the judge looks for

• Condition — Weight and overall condition
• Coat and skin — Clean, pliable skin, no parasites
• Grooming — Well groomed

Leading

• Stand and walk beside or slightly in front of the animal’s shoulder
• Keep the animal moving at a reasonable pace, and walk at its speed
• Check the halter is neither too tight nor too loose

Calling

• Hand the calf to a judge or steward
• Move to the calling point and call its name in a loud, clear voice

What to bring

• Reared from one week
• Clean and lice-free
• Not clipped or trimmed

Lambs and Kids

How to prepare

Handle the animal every day. Calling and catching are judged, and both come from an animal that knows your voice and is not startled by you approaching.

What the judge looks for  

• Rearing — Condition, fatness, growth and bloom
• Calling — Calling and catching
• Leading — Walking a course, and overall handling

Leading

• Stand and walk beside or slightly in front of the animal’s shoulder
• Keep the animal moving at a reasonable pace, and walk at its speed

What to bring

• Reared from one week
• Dagging permitted. No bleaching or washing
• Collars only
• No feeding during judging

Cats

How to prepare

A cat that is settled shows better than a cat that is startled. Most of the preparation is about the journey and the noise, not the coat.

What the judge looks for

• Condition and care — Coat clean, brushed and free of knots. Clear eyes and ears. Healthy condition
• Behaviour — Calm and responsive
• Handling and confidence — The student is confident patting the cat, the cat is settled, and the interactions are safe and gentle

On the day

• Practise short car rides beforehand
• Groom gently before the event
• Bring a familiar item to help the cat feel safe
• Keep water available nearby

What to bring

• In a cage or crate
• Supervised at all times
• Vaccinations up to date

Small Animals

Rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and similar

How to prepare

The cage is judged alongside the animal. Clean it the night before rather than on the morning, and set it up the way the animal actually lives in it.

What the judge looks for

• Condition and environment — Clean, well-groomed coat. Alert and healthy. Clean cage with appropriate bedding and suitable food and water
• Presentation and responsibility — The animal is clean, relaxed and gently managed, and the student shows confidence and care
• Enrichment — The cage is presented neatly, with some enrichment such as tunnels or chew toys

On the day

• Clean the cage the night before
• Practise gentle handling in the lead-up
• Get the animal used to noise and to being watched
• Bring extra bedding, water and food

What to bring

• In a secure cage
• No birds this year

Please note:

• No birds this year. Avian influenza precautions mean birds cannot come on site in 2026.

Horses

How to prepare

Riding, temperament and care are judged separately, so prepare for all three. A well-groomed horse with clean tack and a rider who knows it well scores in places that riding alone does not reach.

How to prepare

Riding, temperament and care are judged separately, so prepare for all three. A well-groomed horse with clean tack and a rider who knows it well scores in places that riding alone does not reach.

What the judge looks for

RIDING ABILITY

• Seat and position — Balanced seat, correct leg and hand position, eyes forward
• Ring etiquette — Awareness of surroundings and navigation of the ring
• Control and confidence — Starting, stopping, turning and adjusting pace smoothly
• Best trick — Show the judge your best trick

HORSE TEMPERAMENT

• Calmness — Relaxed demeanour, no signs of distress or excessive nervousness
• Obedience — Responds promptly and willingly to the rider’s aids
• Consistency — Steady pace, no rushing or napping
• Tolerance — Composed around noise, other horses and a crowd

CARE AND ATTENTION

• Grooming — Clean skin and coat, mane and tail brushed out, hooves picked out. Plaiting optional
• Relationship — A clear bond between horse and rider, kind and reassuring
• Tack — Clean, well-fitting tack and a clean bit
• Overall knowledge — Good overall knowledge of the horse

RIDING ABILITY

• Seat and position — Balanced seat, correct leg and hand position, eyes forward
• Ring etiquette — Awareness of surroundings and navigation of the ring
• Control and confidence — Starting, stopping, turning and adjusting pace smoothly
• Best trick — Show the judge your best trick

HORSE TEMPERAMENT

• Calmness — Relaxed demeanour, no signs of distress or excessive nervousness
• Obedience — Responds promptly and willingly to the rider’s aids
• Consistency — Steady pace, no rushing or napping
• Tolerance — Composed around noise, other horses and a crowd

CARE AND ATTENTION

• Grooming — Clean skin and coat, mane and tail brushed out, hooves picked out. Plaiting optional
• Relationship — A clear bond between horse and rider, kind and reassuring
• Tack — Clean, well-fitting tack and a clean bit
• Overall knowledge — Good overall knowledge of the horse

What to bring

• Lice-free and healthy
• Groomed and presented by the student

Dogs

How to prepare

Obedience is half the score, and it is the half you can practise. Walk the dog on a lead, in a busy place, before the day.

What the judge looks for

• Condition and care — Clean coat, healthy body weight, bright eyes and an alert expression. Signs of regular grooming
• Behaviour — Friendly and calm
• Obedience and handling — Walking calmly on a lead, sitting and following basic instructions, and responding to the student’s voice
• Respectful handling — Calm, confident and gentle from the student

On the day

• Practise walking on a lead beforehand
• Use a well-fitting collar or harness
• Bring treats for encouragement
• Bring a waste bag and clean up
• Leave at home any dog in heat, or is highly anxious

What to bring

• On a lead with an adult at all times
• Vaccination and registration up to date

On the day

You do not have to enter anything to come. Most of the morning is food, stalls and the parade.

What is on — cash only

• Bake sale — Room 5, from 9a.m. Items priced individually
• BBQ — Sausage sizzle $3. Steak sandwich $5
• Food trucks — A range of vendors
• Candy floss — $2
• Tattoos — 50 cents or $1
• Photo booth — $5, page 19

Ribbons and rosettes

First, second, third, fourth and highly commended in every category, with Champion and Reserve Champion across each age group.

Raffles all morning

• $100 cash
• Meat
• Groceries
• A Thermomix
• A BBQ with gas bottle

The photo booth

New this year: your whānau, your pet, and a photograph taken with care.

• Step in together — the whole whānau, and the pet on a lead or in a cage
• Lighting and backdrop, so nobody is squinting into the sun
• The photograph is printed on site or is emailed to you, so it is on your phone before you get home

Not an entry

Nothing from the booth is judged.

The photograph competition is Precious Pet Portraits, entered online — see pages 8–10.

How to reach us

(07) 374 8035

office.ea@wairakeitaupo.school.nz

2 Kauri Drive, Wairakei, Taupō 3332

Office hours 8.30a.m. – 3.30p.m.

Enter a photograph

Precious Pet Portraits entries close Wednesday, October 14, 3.30p.m.

wairakeitaupo.school.nz/petday-photos

The Day in Brief

WHEN

Saturday, October 17, 8.30a.m. to midday

WHERE

The school field, 2 Kauri Drive

COST

Free entry, everyone welcome

PAYMENTS

Bring cash

11A.M. PARADE

Grand Parade in the horse arena

Pet Day Animal Registration Form

Animal Registration form here

Parent Helpers Registration Form

Parent Helper form here

Pet Day information booklet download

Download PDF copy here.