Rotorua Boys' High School take top spots at Nga Manu Korero regionals

Rotorua Boys' High School student Whatukura Mohi (left) with head boy, Rehua Selwyn who won the junior Maori and overall senior Maori section respectively. Photo/ Supplied

Upholding the mana of te reo Maori was the ultimate goal for two Rotorua Boys' High School students who were triumphant at Nga Manu Korero regionals.

Whatukura Mohi won the Junior Maori section while head boy Rehua Selwyn was named Overall Senior at the Te Arawa competition held at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology's Rotorua campus last week.

Both will attend the national contest in New Plymouth in September.

Nga Manu Korero 2017 is a speech competition for secondary school students that sees 14 regions select their finest Maori and English orators to compete at a national finals.

Whatukura, who previously attended Te Wharekura o Ngati Rongomai, gave a prepared speech on the topic, 'He manu hou ahau, he pi ka rere'.

"I talked specifically about me as a manu hou [new bird] going out into the world and gathering all the information and knowledge," Whatukura, 14, said.

"I started off from the roots and how I grew up and about strengthening my wings to go out into the world.

"It took me a couple of weeks to prepare. I was bit frustrated the closer we got to it and when I finished I was so happy, relieved it was over."

For Rehua, this was the first time taking part in the competition. His topic was, "Ka kuku te kereru, ka auau te kuri, kei te korero Pakeha tonu te iwi Maori".

"It means, the kereru makes its sound, the dog still barks but the Maori people are still speaking English," Rehua said.

"I was a bit stressed, I had to learn it in such a short time but when I got up I was kind of excited and ready to go."

He previously attended Rotorua Primary School and Te Wharekura o Ngati Rongomai.

"For me, it's not about me winning, it's more about maintaining the language of our ancestors. That was the most important thing for me. Trying to uphold the mana it has," he said.

"[What I'm looking forward to at the nationals] is being amongst a whole lot of people that love the language, everybody speaking Maori and we still have that to share with the world."

Rotorua Boys' High School head of the Maori Department and Nga Manu Korero Te Arawa delegate Kimiora Webster said it was a great achievement for a mainstream school to have won both the junior and overall senior Maori.

"But acknowledgements have to go to the boys' families for the pathway that their families have put them on and also the previous schooling the boys have had. Fortunately we are reaping the awards the previous schools have done," he said.

"The calibre at this year's regionals was really high. I think Maoridom is in a good place at the moment because we have a lot of positive things happening amongst our rangatahi and it was evident in the group of students at Nga Manu Korero."

All of the results
Junior Maori
1st Whatukura Mohi, Raukura
2nd Kahotea Gardiner, Te Koutu
3rd Ihaka Ashby, Hurungaterangi

Senior Maori prepared
1st Mokonuiarangi Edmonds-Rangitauira, Ruamata
2nd Rehua Selwyn, Raukura
3rd Kiriwaitingi Rei, Te Koutu

Senior Maori impromptu
1st Kiriwaitingi Rei, Te Koutu
2nd Rehua Selwyn, Raukura
3rd Mokonuiarangi Edmonds-Rangitauira, Ruamata

Maori overall
1st Rehua Selwyn, Raukura
2nd Mokonuiarangi Edmonds-Rangitauira, Ruamata

Junior english
1st Manaia Lewis-Wano, Nga Kohine
2nd Te Horowai Mapapalangi, Te Koutu
3rd Te Tuhiwhakauraoterangi Ihakara, Raumata

Senior english prepared
1st Anipatene Biddle, Te Koutu
2nd Shanayla Barrett, Western Heights
3rd Te Aumihi Hohepa, Ruamata

Senior english impromptu
1st Maia Berryman-Kamp, John Paul College
2nd Shanayla Barrett, Western Heights
3rd Anipatene Biddle, Te Koutu

Senior english overall
1st Shanayla Barrett, Western Heights
2nd Anipatene Biddle, Te Koutu
3rd Te Aumihi Hohepa, Ruamata