James Meagher and Erica Stanford competing against each other and putting their maths skills to the test.\u00a0<\/span>Photo:\u00a0RNZ \/ Nate McKinnon<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Education Minister Erica Stanford and South Island Minister James Meagher watched competition proceedings at Christchurch’s Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo.<\/p>\n School principal Meagan Kelly said her students were “very focused” ahead of the competition.<\/p>\n “This is the second Rock Star competition that we’ve done, so they’re pretty keen, they’re pretty well practised, and they do love it,” she said.<\/p>\n “That sense of competition is really amazing, so they really enjoy that.”<\/p>\n Students at Christchurch’s Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo competing in the maths competition.\u00a0<\/span>Photo:\u00a0RNZ \/ Nate McKinnon<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The UK-based competition has been touring the world.<\/p>\n Underlining the high-pressure nature of proceedings, the event was live-streamed over YouTube.<\/p>\n The times table competition was also rejuvenating old rote learning techniques, Kelly said.<\/p>\n “There is a bit of a revival in that we want them to have all of these facts locked into their brains, so it makes maths later on, a little bit easier for them as things get more complex.”<\/p>\n Ten-year-old Haval said he was put to the ultimate test.<\/p>\n “I’m not at my best today. I’m usually 70 to 80 questions a minute, now I’m 40 to 50.”<\/p>\n Other pupils RNZ spoke to explained the competition was both “exciting, challenging, and nerve-wracking”.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0RNZ \/ Nate McKinnon<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Stanford and Meagher were later strapped to their devices, their math skills were put under scrutiny in the ultimate North-South battle, as several pupils watched on.<\/p>\n “We’ve got a South Island representative here in Minister James Meagher, I’m representing the North Island. But maths is the winner on the day right,” Stanford said.<\/p>\n It is understood Stanford earned bragging rights over her junior minister.<\/p>\n Although it was all fun and games on Thursday, problem-solving of a different kind has been needed by Stanford.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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