Youth put language to test

Te Aroha Henry from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori A Rohe O Mangere presents her speech at the National Nga Pu Korero speech competition in Whangarei. Photo / Michael Cunningham

In a bid to promote te reo Maori young orators put their language to the test at the National Nga Pu Korero speech competition hosted in Northland.

The speech competition is part of the 63rd annual Maori Women's Welfare League Conference based this year at Whangarei's ASB Stadium.

Twenty-eight rangatahi from as far south as Wellington took time out of their school holidays yesterday to present their speech in front of hundreds who were in town for the conference.

Susan Wallace, from Te Wai Pounamu, said the young orators presenting were the winners of the regional competitions held this year. She said the level of competition was outstanding.

"It's fantastic we're very lucky, in ways we've got the cream of the crop in terms of young te reo speakers," she said.

There are six categories in the competition - junior male, junior female, intermediate male, intermediate female, senior male and senior female.

Ms Wallace said there were a selection of trophies to be handed out that had been collected over the 63 years the competition had been running.

Competitors from Northland closed the competition yesterday evening.

Te Tai Tokerau league president Mere Mangu said it was the first time in eight years the conference had been held in Northland.

It was themed He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Niu Tireni - the first constitutional document of Aotearoa, following the Waitangi Tribunal Hearing which found Ngapuhi did not cede sovereignty to the Crown.

Men and women from around the country travelled to Whangarei to attend the conference and were welcomed with a powhiri yesterday. The conference continues until Saturday.