Hoani Waititi orators outstanding

Talented speaker: Te Kanawa Ngarotata, 14, of Te Kura Kaupapa o Hoani Waititi Marae makes his point.

By Rani Timoti

Young west Auckland orators will take their English and Maori language skills to a national competition later this year after an intense warm-up at Hoani Waititi Marae.

Pupils from more than 40 schools took part in the Auckland Regional Secondary Schools Manu Korero Speech Competitions at the Glen Eden-based marae last week.

Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae school principal Tipene Lemon says the calibre of the students was outstanding.

"It was an opportunity for the best speakers to strut their stuff."

The nationals will be held in Auckland in September.

Established in 1965, the speech competition is overseen by the Maori Education Trust.

It is known as the Korimako Contest and aims to encourage a greater command and fluency of spoken English among secondary Maori students.

Regional results: Sir Turi Carroll, Junior English: Jacob Hiko, 1, Kelston Boys High School; Alana Faul, 2, Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae (Southern Cross Campus Mangere); Moana Makapelu, 3, Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae, Te Rawhiti Ihaka, Junior Maori: Tuira Stowers, 1, Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae (Southern Cross Campus Mangere); Tuhoe Tamaiparea, 2, Western Springs College; Hamiora Waipouri, 3, Kelston Boys High School. Korimako, Senior English: Tuta'l Lawrence Vaevae, 1, Te Whanau o Tupuranga (Clover Park Senior School). Shannelle Morgan Fiaui, 2, Penrose High School; Eruera Harry Reading, 3, Dilworth School. Impromptu speech winner: Tuta'l Lawrence Vaevae, Te Whanau o Tupuranga (Clover Park Secondary School); Pei Te Hurinui Jones, Senior Maori: Thomas Mason, 1, Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae (Southern Cross Campus Mangere); Tumanako Waikare, 2, Te Wharekura o Piripono; Kawana Waititi, 3, Rutherford College. Impromptu speech winner: Thomas Mason, Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae (Southern Cross Campus Mangere). Best female speaker: Anania Te Nana, Western Springs College.