Each of the winners received a personal iPad and their school received a digital camera and a 3D printer, all donated by the Ngati Whakaue Education Endowment Trust.
Two of the winning students, Kate O'Leary and Naianga Tapiata, will also have the honour of planting a special pine tree donated by Scion.
The seedling, descended from the original Gallipoli Peninsula Lone Pine, will be planted as part of the Rotorua District Field of Remembrance Consecration Ceremony, taking place in Government Gardens on Thursday April 23 at 5pm.
Rotorua Museum education manager Emma Liley said she was thrilled with the response to the competition.
"It was fantastic to see so many schools incorporating the project into class learning.
"The judges were hugely impressed with the quality of the entries across all four categories. These young people never met the people they researched but the incredible stories they have told remind us how important it is to hold onto our history," said Rotorua Lakes Council kaupapa Maori director Mauriora Kingi.
"In the written Maori and short Maori film sections I was particularly impressed with the high standard of te reo Maori used by both our winners Naianga Tapiata and Holly Cash," he said.
Daily Post deputy chief reporter Matthew Martin said Kate O'Leary's winning entry in the written English section stood out for the breadth of resources used, including interviews with a wide range of people.
"She had family links to more than one person who served in WWI and could have chosen the more widely known John Simpson Kirkpatrick and his donkey. Instead she chose her great grandfather Douglas Daniel Simpson and presented a thoroughly researched story told beautifully in her own voice," he said.
In the short English film category the judges singled out Robbie Meredith's entry about a notable German war hero.
"What Robbie did using animation in the film was excellent and he had obviously put a great deal of time and effort into the project," Mr Martin said.
A selection of entries from the competition will be on display at the Energy Events Centre on Anzac Day morning and at Rotorua Museum from Saturday April 25 until Sunday May 3.
