Tauranga girls lift the bar in Gate Pa essays

The Battle of Gate Pa speech and essay award winners (back from left) Paula Smith, Tayla Turner-Paki, Danielle Waiari, (front from left) Kayla Dawson, Maraea Ranui and Kalais Going.

Fifty years since writing an award-winning essay for the Battle of Gate Pa Centenary, project manager Buddy Mikaere presented the award to winners of the 150th commemoration speech and essay competitions.

The Tauranga students were recognised at the awards dinner at Elizabeth St Cafe and Larder on Thursday night.

Mr Mikaere said the awards night was a fitting way to end the Battle of Gate Pa 150th Commemoration events.

"Our children are our future, and these young people have written essays and speeches about respect, remembrance and reconciliation. They have captured the essence of what these events are all about for our community - and for that we thank them."

Tauranga Girls' College student Maraea Ranui, called "extraordinary" by Willie Apiata VC, won the Gate Pa speech competition.

The 16-year-old Year 12 student received a $750 prize and swapped notes with Mr Apiata at the commemoration dinner on April 28.

Ngai Te Rangi chairman Charlie Tawhiao said Maraea's speech had lifted the competition bar by dealing with issues at the heart of the community.

"It addressed some issues we as a community have trouble talking about, and she said it in a way that didn't make anybody cringe."

Tauranga Girls' College students Aine Blackman, Felicity Tomkins and Danielle Waiari were runners-up in the speech competition Mr Tawhiao said was a tough one to judge.

The girls' school continued to dominate the awards taking out the top prizes in the junior and senior sections of the Gate Pa essay competition.

Tayla Turner-Paki took the top prize in the senior competition with fellow student Kalais Going winning the junior.

Kayla Dawson and Mount Maunganui College student Paula Smith took second places and Danielle Waiari of Tauranga Girls' College was highly commended.

Tauranga historian and city council librarian Stephanie Smith said history had obviously come alive for the students in their essay writing.

Ms Smith, who chaired the judging panel, said senior winner Tayla's writing was "full of dignity and compassion". She also said junior winner Kalais had "clearly got emotionally involved in the topic and learnt from the past" when writing about "What the Battle of Gate Pa means to me".