Ngā Manu Kōrero is regarded as the most significant event on the Māori education calendar for nurturing oratory skills and providing the stage for young people to express their views and to lay down their challenges to an admiring and critical audience of peers, whānau and judges.

This kaupapa takes a lot of commitment; students have to write and memorise a speech of up to 12 minutes - Pei Te Hurinui Jones (Senior Māori), 8 minutes – Korimako (Senior English), 10 minutes - Rawhiti Ihaka (Junior Māori) and 6 minutes - Sir Turi Carroll (Junior English). The senior students (in both categories) also have to give an impromptu speech of up to 3 minutes with only 5 minutes preparation time.

For the school competition, our Te Reo Māori classes made up the majority of the audience. Any students wishing to go to the regional competition as tautoko (support) were required to present themselves on stage and give their pepeha to the audience. Ngā mihi nui e tama mā.

The competition was strong amongst our speakers, and although we did not have a lot of students who chose to speak on the day, we can be truly proud that we will be represented at the regional competition in all four categories.

Results:

Te Rāwhiti Ihaka Junior Te Reo Māori - Manaia Huntley

Sir Turi Carroll Junior English - Manaia Huntley

Te Pei Te Hurinui Jones Senior Te Reo Māori - Rangatira Smith

Korimako - Senior English - Tānenuiarangi Norton

Commendations to Asher Gotty, Korimako Senior English and Ted Small, Te Pei Te Hurinui Jones Senior Te Reo Māori.

Many thanks to Jasper Wilson-Bush for taking the videos, Adam Cairns and Kaiziah Maru for their talented work as MCs on the day, and also the te reo Māori judge, Whaea Merehira Wills.