Sixty young speakers from secondary schools around the country are competing today and tomorrow at the national speech competition, Ngā Manu Kōrero, at Papa Hawaiki in Kaikohe.
The four-day event includes two days of competition with today set aside for senior students while juniors will compete tomorrow.
Te Kahurangi Teinakore-Huaki, reigning senior Māori speaker, told Te Karere that while she travelled down from Hamilton, along with her school Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, to return the Pei Te Hurinui trophy, it was also a homecoming.
“Nō konei au, a, nō Te Tai Tokerau i te taha o tōku koro. Nō reira e maringanui ana ahau ki te haere mai ki konei, ka mutu, ki te whakakanohi i tōku iwi, arā, o Tainui waka.”
(“I’m from Te Tai Tokerau on my grandfather’s side. So I’m fortunate to be able to come here and represent my iwi of Tainui waka.”)
Likewise, for Atareta Milne, reigning junior Māori speaker, who also hails from the north but goes to Te Kura o Te Koutu in Rotorua, the occasion is a good reason to return home.
“Tērā ētahi o mātou kāore anō kia tae mai ki tēnei whenua nā reira e mihi ana. E hīkaka ana ki te āta whakarongo ki te nui, ki ngā kaikōrero i tēnei tau. Kei te tino hīkaka au ki te rongo i a rātou ake whakaaro.”
(“There are some of us who have never set foot in this region, so I acknowledge that. I’m excited to listen to the speakers this year and hear their own thoughts.”)
All young speakers are set to deliver a prepared speech, with seniors also participating in an impromptu section, where they are given five minutes to prepare a three-minute speech on a particular topic.
Prepared topics range from te tino rangatiratanga of te reo Māori to questioning whether AI tutors are a helping hand or homework hackers.
The students will be vying for the coveted titles in four categories: Rāwhiti Ihaka Junior Māori, Tā Turi Kara Junior English, Pei Te Hurinui Senior Māori and Korimako Senior English.
Prizegiving is set to take place on Thursday.
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