However, this wasn't always the case - having always been an option at the school in one form or another, its prominence had waned for large periods of time.
Principal Nick Chapman said he was "looking for something for our school over 15 years ago to make it different and give us an edge".
Out of the blue came a letter from (the late) Genesis Potini and the Eastern Knights Chess Club.
A letter that's words were the catalyst of a chess dynasty.
"Computers really took over and then all of a sudden comes this letter," said Mr Chapman.
He said the game now has a strong following among Nuhaka's 103 students, as they flourish within the game's culture.
"It is promoted as a mind sport and a vehicle to take part in chess tournaments, so you learn to play chess and develop an ability to play the game as you move up the year levels."
He said 5 and 6-year-olds started out playing checkers at the school.
When they turned 7 they took up chess, and when they finished as 12 and 13-year-olds most could beat their parents and teachers.
The Nuhaka students are coached and nurtured by school staff and use online resources to hone their developing skills.
In the build-up to the Hawke's Bay tournament, the students played chess within their age groups and a team were selected.
"We used to have more workshops tutored by Genesis, Jedi [Fitzgerald] and Noble [Keelan] but unfortunately this is now not possible, so we set up in-school workshops."
Keelan, who has spent his life working with at risk youth around Gisborne, co-founded the Gisborne Eastern Knights with Genesis in 2000 and reflected on the duo's passion of the game.
"Genesis was an unstoppable person. Once he had something in his mind, you couldn't stop him from doing it and he would just go crazy with what he wanted to do."
The importance of chess doesn't go unnoticed by those in the game and Mr Keelan is a strong advocate for the benefits of the game, not only on the board, but off it.
"It teaches kids to think about what they're doing before they actually do it, so its good for making the right decisions and learning to deal with wrong decisions," he noted.
The strategic sport has also been an inspiration to many gang kids.
Now running the Ka Pai Kaiti Kings, Keelan teaches the game to underprivileged youngsters in the area.
"We have about 30 kids come to us on a Thursday night and they are all misfits," he said.
"[But now] they know how to set things up, pack things down, play appropriately, no swearing - they know all the rules and they sit there and they behave. They don't step a foot out of line."
The relationship between Mr Chapman and Mr Keelan is strong - one that if he called the chess champ and asked him to visit the next day - he would, "it's just how it is."
"Nick [Chapman] sees the importance and he sees its benefits to kids in education. If we can help the kids then that's what we do."
Two months ago, Dane Wilson was crowned as the Year 3 Chess Champ at the Hawke's Bay School's Year 1-6 Chess tournament.
At 8 years old, his mother, Nuhaka School Board chairwoman Person Maraea Wesche, doesn't dare to play against him.
His whole family, including his 9-year-old brother Travis Wilson, play chess and 21-year-old brother Kaylen Baty was a top chess player during his own time at the school.
"He can nearly beat Kaylen. They play together whenever they have the opportunity and he was really quite surprised at how well Dane could play," Ms Wesche said.
Like most kids at Nuhaka, Dane has a life away from the board, playing outside and other sports - but takes to the board at any opportunity.
For the budding talent, playing with his friends and going on the bus to travel to tournaments is what excites him.
The lawnmower move - where you checkmate with two rooks is his favourite.
"It's all about protecting the queen and king. I like trying to put people in checkmate as well."
They all strive to hold the Dark Horse Trophy at the end of the year, handed over by previous Year 7 and 8 winners and named after the movie of the same name.
And Ms Wesche is pleased with what the game has brought to the school.
"It's something that sets us apart from the rest and it is something that is built into our culture," she said.
"It doesn't matter what level you are, you get to have a go and you get to learn how to play."
Team etiquette is at the forefront of the game - manners and shaking hands is part of the fun.
Although Ruma Rumaki Room (Maori Immersion) teacher Pauline Symes does not know the game, she has a strong affiliation with the school and has been a "solid supporter" over the years.
The moto that they live by is 'Kāore te kumara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka' - A kumara doesn't tell you how sweet it is, it's for others to.
She remarks that the kids get their mana (prestige and power) from what people tell them, rather than themselves parading around how good they are.
Now chairman of the Gisborne Eastern Knights Chess Club, Colin Albert, believes Nuhaka School definitely has one of the strongest chess presence in the region and it shows quite clearly in the results of any tournament they enter.
"The last competition that was run by the Gisborne Eastern Knights was the Tairawhiti Intermediate Chess competition, where Nuhaka took out Top Student (Camden Champion) and came first equal with Gisborne Intermediate for the Top School award. They also recently took out several age category awards in the recent Hawkes Bay Tournament for Years 1-6."
Although Genesis Potini may be gone, his chess pieces will continue to move in the minds and hearts of those who have been touched by his legacy.
