The O’Shea Shield is one of the most anticipated fixtures on the Catholic secondary school calendar, bringing together students from the 17 Catholic colleges of the Wellington and Palmerston North dioceses for a weekend of faith-filled competition, public speaking and performance. Held each year on the second weekend of Term 2 and hosted by a different college, the 2026 event was hosted by Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt under the theme “Returning to the Heart.”
Drawn from Pope Francis’ encyclical Dilexit Nos, the theme invited students to reflect deeply on faith, courage and conviction. Across the weekend, students competed in debating, English and te reo Māori scripture reading, junior prepared speech, impromptu speaking, oratory, religious drama and religious questions, showcasing not only their speaking ability but also their preparation, teamwork and understanding of Catholic faith and tradition.
This year’s competition once again highlighted the depth of talent across both dioceses. St Catherine’s College Wellington took out the 2026 O’Shea Shield, with St Patrick’s College Silverstream finishing second. St Peter’s College Palmerston North placed third, Sacred Heart College Napier finished fourth and Hato Pāora College fifth, giving the Palmerston North Diocese a particularly strong showing in the overall standings.
Palmerston North diocesan colleges also featured strongly across the individual sections. Cullinane College won Oratory Section A, St Peter’s College won Oratory Section B and Religious Drama, Hato Pāora College placed first in English Scripture Reading Section A, Impromptu Speaking Section A and Te Reo Māori Scripture Reading Section B, Sacred Heart Girls’ College New Plymouth won Impromptu Speaking Section B and Religious Questions Section A, and St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College won Te Reo Māori Scripture Reading Section A.
Reflecting on the experience, Melenie Seko, Special Character Leader at St Peter’s College, said O’Shea Shield was “such an eye-opening opportunity” filled with new experiences, reconnections with friends from other schools, and a strong sense of support and belonging. She said the atmosphere was full of laughter, singing, dancing and volleyball, and that the event left her with lifelong memories and stronger friendships.
Tomas Verbeek from Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth said O’Shea Shield was much more than a speech and drama competition, describing it instead as a “community”. He said the experience was marked by constant encouragement, strong friendships and a shared sense of faith among students from around Aotearoa. While Francis Douglas celebrated excellent results, Tomas said the event “gave us not only a chance to compete against other schools, but a chance to connect with others, in a way few other events can.”
Behind every speech, question, reading and performance is a huge amount of work from students, teachers and coaches, and that effort was evident throughout the weekend. O’Shea Shield continues to be more than a competition; it is an opportunity for young people to grow in confidence, build friendships across schools and celebrate the gifts they have been given.
Next year’s event will be hosted by Garin College in Nelson.
