Manu Korero all about giving young Maori a chance to share thoughts

Rotorua students in the 52nd annual Nga Manu Korero competition are fine tuning their speeches as the competition gets under way this month.

Many students in the secondary schools speech competition, in which 14 regions select their finest Maori and English orators to compete at a national finals, have been preparing their six- to 12-minute speeches for months.

Renowned Rotorua speech-maker Kingi Biddle, QSM, said Manu Korero was about giving young Maori a chance to share what was on their mind.

"Everybody has something to say and wants to be heard.

"What's the importance of te reo? It reflects the world that Maori live in and come from and reflects the way that we think," he said.

"It teaches our young ones . . . to provide reasoning and logic and flow, and ultimately a point. That's a powerful gift to teach our young ones."

He said for many students it was one of the highlights of the year.

The competition comprises both Maori and English-language speeches. Maori and non-Maori students can compete in the Maori-language side, while the English-language side is only open to Maori students.

The Manu Korero Waiariki rohe delegate from Rotorua Boys' High School, Kimiora Webster, said the competition largely went unnoticed in wider Aotearoa but played an important role for competitors.

"This competition is something we need to revive for public speaking in our schools because public speaking builds confidence and all those positive attributes."

"Uncle Mauriora [Kingi] was a speaker in there, Kingi Kiriona [broadcaster, Te Iti Kahurangi co-founder], Julian Wilcox, Matai Smith - a lot of leaders have come out of Manu Korero."

Rotorua Girls' High School deputy principal Aramoana Mohi-Maxwell said she was pleased rangatahi across the region could share their views on kaupapa.

"Our girls are preparing their speeches and once selections have been made then girls will move to the next level of preparation which means working with whanau or staff to build confidence and expertise."

Rotorua Boys' teacher and kaumatua Wairangi Jones said the school's Year 9 boys were told part of being a future leader was having the ability to speak publicly, and Manu Korero was a fantastic opportunity to develop those skills.

"You have to speak on the marae, you have to speak at your workplace, your whanau reunion, tangi - so you might as well learn now," he said.

"Every morning, someone is chosen to do the karakia, someone is chosen to lead the whaikorero and someone is chosen to do the waiata. So by the time they stand up and speak [in public], it doesn't faze them at all."

Manu Korero
- Nga Manu Korero (The Orators) speech competition is in its 52nd year
- There are four different categories for junior and senior Maori and Pakeha students
- Schools select one student in each category to compete in regionals
- The winners compete in the national competition in September in New Plymouth