Students from six Hawke's Bay high schools will be in verbal action this morning as the Taradale U3A club stages the 15th Napier Secondary Schools Speech Competition at the Taradale Town Hall.
Organiser Franki James described the annual event as a "unique celebration of youth and age".
Going into the event, which gets under way from 10am, Taradale High School sits at the top of the table with five wins, followed by William Colenso College with four and Napier Girls' High School on three.
"Each year the quality of the speakers seems to improve - all speeches having in some way to take cognisance of the generation gap and the impact of youth and age upon each other," Ms James said.
The students will be appraised by a panel of three judges from Toastmasters' clubs across the region while the audience also get to have their say with a Peoples' Choice Award.
Ms James said the "youth and age" event was always verbally entertaining and enlightening and was now a firm part of the U3A landscape.
Entry is $2 and a morning tea will be on offer between 9.15am and 9.45am, when the audience will then be asked to take their seats for the speeches.