The Catlins Area School is all set to host the Southern Area Schools Tournament, which starts today.
Rotated annually between the six southern area schools in the South Island, the event has attracted pupils from Twizel, Roxburgh, Maniototo, Waiau and Lawrence area schools, who will gather in Owaka for the opening ceremony at noon.
Schools will compete against each another in a multitude of sporting activities.
Catlins Area School sports co-ordinator Tania Barr said there was a lot to organise in the lead-up to the three-day event including finding billets or places for the 150 pupils to stay.
About 50 households in the wider Owaka and Catlins area had offered to house the pupils for the two nights.
She said a lot of the pupils ''really looked forward'' to competing with other schools and making new friends.
''A lot of them are meeting new people and have new experiences,'' she said.
Pupils would also be selected in the main sport events, such as netball, rugby, football and volleyball, to compete in the National Area School Sports Tournament.
Other events included a chess tournament, clay-bird shooting and badminton.
The event was organised by her and head of sport Fiona Wilkinson.
The Southern Area Schools Tournament concludes with a social event tomorrow night and a closing ceremony on Friday.
