Last night Otago Girls' High School hosted Tiare Makanesi's initiative, The Otago "Pasifika Voices" Speech Competition.

The contest featured fifteen Pasifika speakers from seven Otago secondary schools and brought together our Pasifika families, churches, sponsors and educational institutions.

First place in the Senior section was won by Storm Maole of Otago Girls' High School, with first place in the Junior section going to Analeia Kesha from Kaikorai Valley College. Ananisi Saafi of Otago Girls' High School won the prize for the only participant to present her speech in her first language, Tongan.

Tiare and I would like to thank the following individuals and organisations for their sponsorship and support: The Port Chalmers Lions Club, Seventh Day Adventist Church, The University Bookshop, Otago Girls’ High School School Council, Starbucks, Te Wananga O Aotearoa, The Black Dog Cafe, Ministry Of Education, Rialto movie cinemas, The Coffee Club, University of Otago Pacific Centre, Ministry of Education, Pastor Peter Taivairanga, Emma Kesha, Mr Pickard, Mrs Hohaia, Ms Miller, Mrs Smallfield, Mr Te Ngahue, Mrs Davidson, Pip Laufiso, Julie Anderson, Salaevalu Feleti-Ivala, Jasmine Eteuati, Peter Taivairanga, Katie Wong, Maia Dean, Anja Matapo , Seli Uele, Tofilau Nina Kirifi Alai, Dr. Mitchelle Schaaf, Aki Ahokovi and Sifa Pole.