"This is an assembly that acknowledges our history and allows us to pay our respects to our old boys; not just those who made the ultimate sacrifice but also respects and acknowledges the hundreds who went off to world wars to fight for their country and our freedom."
Potaka's speech The Forgotten Hero, beat seven other Year 12 and 13 finalists to win the overall competition. He presented the speech to his peers and guests, before receiving his trophy from the Waikato/King Country/Bay of Plenty RSA president Clive Collingwood and ANZ representative Lisa Baty.
Potaka flies to Istanbul today and on Sunday he will visit Anzac Cove before taking part in the New Zealand service with Prime Minister John Key.
His speech was about New Zealand's first fully qualified Maori pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Porokohu Patapu John Pohe, known as Johnny and who was a relative of his. He told the assembly Johnny survived 22 missions before being shot down over the North Sea and rescued by German forces. He was sent to a prisoner of war camp where he and his fellow prisoners dug a tunnel and escaped. He was recaptured and executed.
"They were blindfolded but Johnny removed his blindfold and the others followed suit, to show their bravery to look at their executioners in the eyes," Potaka said. "Pohokoru John Pohe was a true warrior never afraid to face his death.
"As I found out more of this forgotten hero I was inspired to uphold the mana of my tipuna ... to stand up proudly, as a Maori role model and be counted to earn the respect and honour as a valued member of society today, and to remind others of the bravery of the forgotten Maori warriors who lost their lives only to be buried overseas in some distant field."
The assembly included a roll of honour and laying of the wreaths.
