Whanganui City College's golden girls

Whanganui City College's hip-hop dance crew, Aotea Empire, with their gold medals. from left: Ani Latus, Taylah Baker, Hineraumoa Hiroti-Williams, Kyla Joseph, Kerah McLean-Duffy. Front: Shaniqua Hamilton-Hopa, Tia Moana-Ward, Kiana Te Rangimoeakau.

There's a different colour to the medals Whanganui City College's dance crew Aotea Empire brought back from a national hip-hop competition.

After coming third at last year's National Secondary Schools Hip-Hop Championships, this year the eight-strong all-female crew took out the top spot.

The dancers, who range from Year 9 to Year 12, have only been dancing together for a year.

Whanganui City College's deputy principal, Val Rooderkerk, who travelled with the crew to Christchurch, said they had faced stiff competition.

"It was a very big ask for them. But they beat last year's winner, so we're quite happy about that."

After the Christchurch win on Friday the crew immediately left for Palmerston North, where they competed in another national championship, Dance NZ Made. They didn't place in this competition.

Ms Rooderkerk said the girls' success would be acknowledged at a school assembly on Friday.