Ngā Manu Kōrero Speech Competition

By Brent Matehaere | Posted: Wednesday June 29, 2016

Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competitions were held on Friday last week in Invercargill. A group of about 40 students from Otago Boys' and Otago Girls' travelled down to support the four speakers from the two schools. 

The group stayed at the Murihiku Marae the night prior to the competition and were able to experience noho marae and the kawa (protocols) associated with that.  

The kapa haka group Wairua Puhou along with Reo Māori students practiced waiata and haka tautoko in the evening.

The speakers were Te Ngaru Wehi – Pei Te Hurinui Jones (Snr Māori) Taina Te Ngahue – Korimako (Snr English) along with Lucy - Korimako and Hannah Matehaere - Sir Turi Carroll (Junior English). In the senior competitions they have to perform a 3 minute impromptu speech and a 6 minute (English) or 12 Minute (Reo Māori) prepared speech. In the junior section it is just a 6 min prepared speech.

The speakers are supported by the other students with a Waiata after the speeches. If students win categories it is then traditional for the student to be congratulated with a Haka.

The celebrations for the group started early with the first category of Sir Turi Carroll being won by Hannah Matehaere, Lucy Matehaere was then awarded 3rd in the impromptu, Taina 3rd in the prepared speech and Lucy 2nd in the prepared. Lucy was then awarded 2nd overall in the senior category. Te Ngaru Wehi then brought the house down winning both prepared and impromptu and the overall Senior Māori competition. Haka Tautoko came for all corners of the Invercargill Town Hall. This qualifies Te Ngaru and Hannah for the national finals in Whangarei. Fundraising and preparations will begin for both schools for this monumental occasion! We believe this is the first time that Otago Boys’ have had a student attend nationals foe Ngā Manu Kōrero.

Ka mau te wehe Te Ngaru!

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