Lest we forget private war in our homes

When Kaitaia College student Anaru Williams talked to old soldiers about war and peace, his words brought tears to their eyes.

If his oratory has the same effect on listeners in Wellington on Thursday, Anaru might win a trip to Gallipoli for this year's Anzac Day commemorations. Earlier this month, at the Whangarei RSA, he won the regional final of the illustrious National Bank RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition, the Northland title competed for by high school students from Warkworth north.

The proud young Kiwi who wins will travel to a place buried deep in the heart of New Zealand's nationhood - the bleak, haunting and strangely beautiful Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey where Anzac was born amid the horror and death of war.

The subject of the speech competition, in its fifth year, embraces New Zealanders' official involvement in any wars or peacemaking operations since the South Africa (Boer) War.

This year, Anaru's winning Northland speech contained a masterful shift from a heart-stirring tribute to the honour, courage and sacrifice of many - to bring future generations freedom - to a state in their modern homeland where domestic violence robs many of the right to live freely and in peace.

What did those men lose their lives for when the mokopuna they died for live a world of private war in their own homes, Anaru's speech asked? The battle the new generation faced was stopping child abuse in our homes.

RSA Northland District president D'Arcy Bailey, who oversees this region's contest, described Anaru's speech as powerful. "Many students took the opportunity to research and speak about an unforgettable aspect of our nation's heritage. Anaru presented an excellent speech that was a little different."

As regional winner, decided by Toastmasters judges along with officials from RSA and The National Bank, Anaru won a personal bank account worth $1000 and his school received $1000. The national winner will get a further $1000, a laptop computer and digital camera. Cyril Bassett - the only New Zealander awarded a Victoria Cross for bravery at Gallipoli - was one of hundreds of The National Bank's staff who have served this country overseas.

As the rules allow, Anaru has been able to make small adjustments to the speech he will present again at Thursday's tough national contest, but he agreed to us printing excerpts from his original. The lad who is Kaitaia College's head boy and whose teachers and fellow students say is one of the nicest fellows you could meet, also found time to talk with the Northern Advocate.

How long have you been writing and presenting speeches?

The first speech I remember presenting was when I was 9 years old in Year Four at Ahipara Primary School, in 2003. It was terrifying. I remember one of the girls in the class asking, 'Why are your cheeks all red?', then of course, they just went redder. As time went on, I got used to doing speeches, but that underlying fear to get up and speak was still there, and in fact, still is. In Year 7 I got into the semifinals for our school speech contest but didn't make it to the finals. I did, however, present a Maori speech about 'Tangata Rongonui' (Sir Apirana Ngata), and won the Manu Korero section of the speech contest. In 2007, my speech about honesty took me through to the finals, where I won the senior section of the Ahipara School Speech competition. In 2009, I made it to the finals of the Kaitaia College Year 10 speech contest but did not win. Last year, in 2011, I won the Kaitaia College Year 12 speech contest with my speech about child abuse. The RSA Cyril Bassett VC speech competition is actually the first extra-curricular speech contest I have been involved in, and I'm astounded to be going through to the nationals.

Are you in your school's speech club?

Unfortunately, no, I'm not. The Oratory Club just began this year and it meets every Monday at lunchtime; this clashes with our Senior Council meetings. As head boy I have to attend every meeting.

Do you speak te reo Maori?

Maori was the first language I learned. I was fluent but now I can only just understand some of the reo. Moving from a dominantly Maori-speaking environment (kohanga reo) into mainstream education meant English became my predominant language.

How much has being head boy influenced your public speaking, or is it the other way around?

I think that they have both influenced each other. Having the capacity to stand and talk in front of large crowds is definitely a requirement for being head boy. Speaking in front of assemblies and, in some cases, to the wider community are some of the duties I have to fulfil in being head boy. But also, participating in competitions has definitely helped to increase my confidence overall.

Did that segue from war to domestic violence to the aspirations of a community come easily?

This speech was largely influenced by one I wrote last year on child abuse. When I saw the speech topic the RSA posed, 'New Zealanders at War', it suggested the questions: What does it mean to be a New Zealander, what is war, and where are New Zealanders at war? I knew what I wanted to write about.

What career do you have your eye on?

When I leave school at the end of this year, I'd like to go into the health sciences. I'd love to go into medicine or even psychology.