The Year 9 and 10 Speech and Poetry Festival was held on Wednesday 13 November in the Information Centre.

Annalise MacDonell, 9SMI, was the winner of the Year 9 Speech competition. The Year 10 festival was based around the theme of Mana Wāhine (Strong Women). There were three sections: Speech, Spoken Word Poetry and Poetry Out Loud. Te Anahera Weepers won first place in the speech section, Leah Faitonu was first place in the Spoken Word Poetry section and Micaela Silan was first place in the Poetry Out Loud section. Te Anahera proudly represented Queen’s High School at the Otago Secondary Schools’ Year 10 Speech competition with her moving and inspirational speech. Below is her speech.

Georgina Beck

Kia Ora

Ko Taumarere te Awa

Ko Hikurangi te Maunga

Ko ngatokimatawhaorua te waka

Ko Akarana te Marae

Ko Ngati Hine te Hapu

Ko Ngapuhi te Iwi

Ko Te Anahera tōku ingoa

Inspiration.

Whakamanawa.

What does this word mean?

According to the English dictionary, the word inspiration means: the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.

But to me that word means so much more.

To me, the word inspiration is my mother.

Who brought me into this world, who taught me right from wrong.

To me, the word inspiration is Malala Yousafzai.

Who took a bullet to the head, taking a stand, fighting for her right to an education.

To me, the word inspiration is my friends who help me see clearly and positively in times of need and pain.

To me, the word inspiration is Dame Whina Cooper.

Who marched one-thousand kilometres protesting the alienation of Māori land.

To me, the word inspiration is my teachers.

Who are constantly enabling me with tools to build my future.

To me, the word inspiration is all of you because every one of you are going through your own struggles and battles but you are still here getting an education and are willing to make the world a better place.

To me, the word inspiration is the countless women in my life who have helped shape me and taught me what it means to be a strong, powerful woman, because without them, I would not be the person that I am standing in front of you today.

The women who teach me my culture, my language. Because without them toku wāheke tamariki, toku wāheke mokopuna, Aotearoa’s wāheke tamariki me mokopuna would not go on to speak and understand the importance of speaking te reo Māori. Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi maurea, my language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul.

The women who encourage me to get an education and to not let anything get in the way of fulfilling my dreams. Because I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am, and where I want to be, to inspire me and not terrify me.

The women who have fought for me, fought for my rights, fought for us, fought for our rights, fought for our dreams. Because without the courage and persistence of the likes of Kate Sheppard, for example, we would not be able to vote once we turn eighteen, which gives us a voice in the future of our beautiful country.

The women I know who, despite the seemingly infinite trials and hardships still wake up with a smile on their face and a never ending gratitude for what they have gained. Not dwelling on what they have lost, because their positivity and faith is a shining example to others around them.

The young women who, despite the current pressure from social media to be this perfect person, with a perfect, Kim Kardashian body with a perfect Kylie Jenner face, continue to be themselves and not compare themselves to these “influencers”.

But it is not only women who inspire me and shape me because to me, the word inspiration is my dad who, by his example, teaches me how a man should love and respect a woman and that I should expect the same.

I want you to imagine that you are walking down a long road. This road leads to a place that you really want to get to. Imagine that you’re all alone and the road is completely empty. There’s no one else in sight, it’s getting dark and cold and your head keeps telling you to turn back and take the easy option. Now, I want you to imagine that as you’re walking down this road you can hear the voices of the people you love, encouraging you to keep going and even though it is getting dark and cold, those voices are there comforting you. Would you persist and keep going or would you turn around like you might’ve in the first scenario?

We are who we are because of the people that whakamanawa us. Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini, my success should not be bestowed onto me alone, as it was not individual success but the success of a collective. E hoa ma, ina te ora o te tangata, my friends, this is the essence of life. The people who inspire us are te mea nui o te ao, the most important thing in the world.

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena ra tatou katoa.

Te Anahera Weepers 10BIS