Two students from Whakatāne High School medalled recently at the Mataatua Manu Kōrero Regional Competition.

Open to Māori secondary school students from across the Mataatua region, the competition is part of the larger national Ngā Manu Korero speech competition, which celebrates te ao Māori through public speaking in both English and te reo Māori.

Te Tokatumoana McGarvey won the prepared and impromptu speech categories, winning himself the overall title in the Senior Māori category.

He will now represent the Mataatua region at the national competition in September.

Te Aorangi Stewart also placed in her section, finishing second in the Sir Turi Carroll Junior English category. She missed out on first place by only one point.

Te Tokatumoana said, “[I’m] quite proud of myself.

“My family was proud of me as well… Auntie was crying.”

He said many of his whānau and friends were there to support him and helped him prepare in the week prior.

Te Aorangi also had family support her at the event who were “quite excited, quite proud”.

Despite both students saying they felt nervous going into the event, they did not show it on stage.

They had prepared extensively for the competition – having to first compete and be selected from their own classes as two of four students chosen overall to represent the school.

Te Tokatumoana said he practised every day after school and through his lunch breaks in the week leading up to regionals, working hard to tweak his speech and perfect his delivery.

Te Aorangi prepared for over a month.

“Every day when I walked to school, I would say it over and over again … in the shower, just whenever I had time.”

Students are required to write their own speeches for the competition and are allowed to choose topics in each respective category.

Te Aorangi chose to shape hers around “Help me find my place”. Te Tokatumoana, competing in the te reo Māori categories, chose a topic around tikanga, which refers to customary rules and beliefs, or values which guide behaviour and interactions in te ao Māori.

He felt this topic was especially relevant and poignant given recent te ao Māori strains with the Government, adding “whakairi here is to hang it up. By hanging it up, as in to put it up as like a priority in your life … so it lives on”.

Beyond their accolades, both students have enhanced confidence and skill in public speaking, which they say they will carry with them.

As for other students who may be considering the competition, Te Aorangi said:  “Stick with it. It may seem daunting and scary at first, but it gets a lot easier.”

Te Tokatumoana’s advice is “Just go for it … Don’t be scared, have a go and don’t be scared to ask [for help].”