Dunedin secondary schools are questioning the costs associated with competing in the Stage Challenge competition, with some contemplating boycotting the event in favour of running their own event for a fraction of the cost.
The annual dance, drama and design spectacular is run in 13 venues throughout New Zealand, with about 16,000 pupils from 200 schools participating.
Event organiser, Stage Challenge Foundation, says it draws an audience of about 25,000 people.
This year, Dunedin's event at the Edgar Centre attracted seven schools from Dunedin, one from South Otago and one from Waimate.
Fees for entering the competition are based on the number of pupils from each competing school.
This year, entry fees ranged from $1000 to $1300 per school.
Schools were also concerned at the cost of event tickets - $42 (plus a $3 administration fee) per adult, $31 for pupils and $51 per person if booked online.
Otago Girls' High School acting principal Jock Murley said it cost the school nearly $1300 to enter the competition.
''The school has paid quite a lot of money to enter into it, and on top of the $42 the parents are paying to view this performance, there's a lot of money changing hands, and given that there was quite a few sponsors of the event, I'm curious to know whether this organisation [Stage Challenge] is making a lot of money.''
Another principal, who wished to remain anonymous, was concerned Stage Challenge did not have any ''visible'' identity, and had a lot of sponsorship from groups such as Girlfriend magazine, the Ministry of Education, Student Horizons, the Trusts Community Foundation, the Edge radio station, and the Ministry of Youth Development.
''So why do they need to charge so much?''That's beyond many parents' and students' pockets to see their sons, daughters or friends perform.
''I just don't get it. It doesn't add up.''
Several other schools spoken to agreed.
Kaikorai Valley College deputy principal John Downes said on top of entry fees and ticket costs, schools also provided their own costumes and sets.
''When we first started getting involved way back in 2000, I noticed it was very much a case of full participation from anyone who wanted to take part, but it's increasingly become very, very competitive.
''I know it's supposed to be a competition, but it's almost gotten out of kilter from what the original aim was.
''In the early days, it seemed to be a bit more egalitarian.
''We weren't looking at it from a competitive side. We just wanted to give the kids an opportunity to be on stage. We still subscribe to that.''
These days, the rules stated schools could spend up to $5000 on their shows, but Mr Downes believed it could be more.
Another principal, who wished to remain anonymous, said if Stage Challenge entry and ticket costs remained high, Otago schools would boycott the event and look at running their own at a fraction of the cost.
Stars on Stage, a similar event for primary school pupils, run by teachers, could be run for senior pupils also, she said.
Stage Challenge general manager Mavis Buck was unavailable for comment yesterday, but a spokeswoman provided a letter from the foundation's website.
In it, Ms Buck said the Stage Challenge Foundation was a charitable trust that relied solely on ticket sales, entry fees, sponsorship and grants to develop and deliver a professional performance opportunity for secondary pupils.
She said ticket prices had remained the same for seven years, although the associated costs of producing the events had increased.
''Any surplus from ticket sales is directly reinvested back into the foundation to develop the next year's shows.''
Ms Buck's letter said this year's event did not have a major sponsor, which made it difficult to keep costs as low as possible.
