The Regional Ngā Manu Kōrero speech contest continues to be an annual highlight for Māori students based in Northland and reporter Harata Brown met with some of them today.
Through song, and prayers, students prepare to take the stage.
“My speech topic looked at how the walls of my house consist of Māori customs. I chose that topic because I am very close to my marae,” says Manu Kōrero participant Dymoneec Mangu-Thompson from Ngapuhi and Ngati Kahungunu.
“I have been preparing for about a few months now. It was buzzy on stage, I was really nervous, my throat was dry and I couldn't talk. So I got over it, and know that my tupuna were with me,” says Huiamoana Shortland from Ngāpuhi.
The Northland Secondary School Regional Māori Speech Contest is based at Bay of Islands College this year. School Principal John Paitai says many of the students provide help behind the scenes.
Bay of Islands College Principal John Paitai says, “The group that is running this event is our Kapa Haka group. At the end of the year, they will head over to Canada, to stay amongst the indigenous people of Canada.”
The Sir James Carrol and Rawhiti Ihaka sections were on display today. Some of the overall contestants said they stood under the mantle of their ancestors.
“This is what our ancestors did. They passed these skills down to us today, so it is only right that we pay homage to them,” says Arama Wikaira from Ngāpuhi and Tainui.
“My topic focused on time wasting because I tend to waste a lot of parents time and also a lot of my teachers time if I need be,” says Kiana Ruma from Ngāi Tuteauru
The winners are set to represent Northland at the National Competition in September.