Mount Aspiring College (MAC) students have returned from the 2021 Māori speech competition Ngā Manu Kōrero with accolades and are already excited to return next year. 

Ngā Manu Kōrero is regarded as the most significant event on the Māori education calendar for nurturing the oratory skills and developing the confidence of Māori students in speaking English and te reo Māori.

Participating students chose from a variety of speech topics and MAC students prepared and practised their speeches extensively ahead of the 2021 event, which marked the first year MAC students have participated. 

Ryan Enoka (Year 9) presented a four to six minute prepared speech on the topic 'Let me be the rangatahi today; I'll be the rangatira tomorrow'. 

While he was nervous on arrival, Ryan said when he got onstage everything “just fell into place”.

“I was really stoked that all my hard work preparing my speech paid off as it was the best delivery I had done. It was a really relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for such a prestigious event,” he said.

As well as promoting oratory skills, Ngā Manu Kōrero is also about honouring the special and unique existence of being Māori and sustaining connections to the Māori world.

“I can't wait to go back to the next one,” Ryan said. 

MAC te reo Māori teacher Kaz Roberts said Ryan worked hard to have his speech memorised “and delivered his kōrero with confidence”.

Kaz was one of a large group of supporters, including both students and teachers at MAC, who helped Ryan and the second entrant, Tawhiri Rupapera, make their Ngā Manu Kōrero debuts. 

Tawhiri (Year 13) presented a three to five minute impromptu speech as well as a 10 to 12 minute prepared speech. His topic was 'Me mātua ako Te Reo Māori ki ngā kura katoa?' (Should te reo Māori be taught in all schools?). 

He placed second in the impromptu section, third in the prepared section and second overall in the senior Māori categories. 

A group of kapa haka students and two members from the school’s leadership team travelled with Ryan and Tawhiri to support them on stage, and teachers Emily McRae, Jo Waide, Candace Carroll and Kaz supported the students during their preparations. 

MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen said she was proud of the students who took part, who she said “represented themselves, their whānau and school with pride”.

“I’d like to also acknowledge the MAC Kapahaka group and staff who supported Ryan and Tawhiri. The importance of the Ngā Manu Korero speech competition is significant in providing young people an opportunity to formally show and develop their skills in speaking te reo and celebrating their tikanga,” Nicola said.

PHOTO: MAC