Schools walk the talk at korero (+ video)

Year 9 student Arihia Hall of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakarewa i te Reo ki Tuwharetoa in Taupo delivering her speech at the Te Arawa Manu Korero contest yesterday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Schools from throughout the region put forward their best speakers to compete in the annual Te Arawa Manu Korero speech contest.

Held at Waiariki Institute of Technology yesterday more than 12 schools from the Te Arawa rohe took part. Junior and senior students could speak in either the te reo Maori or English section.

Judging the junior Maori - Rawhiti Ihaka section - was former Manu Korero winner and television presenter Kimo Houltham.

"The calibre has been good, there's been some really strong schools like [Te Wharekura o] Ngati Rongomai who consistently produce good speakers, along with Raukura, Te Kura o Koutu," he said.

Mr Holtham said they were also seeing other schools who had students eager and passionate about all things te reo Maori.

"We have seen though that schools haven't put in many students this year," he said.

"When I was in school we had students in every section."

John Paul College Year 10 student Mikaere West competed in the junior English category with his prepared speech titled, We are the guardians of the Earth.

"It went all right, I wasn't that nervous," he said.

"I think I could have done better, given more gestures."

The winners were announced late yesterday afternoon. Te Wharekura o Ngati Rongomai won both the junior and senior Maori section with Rakaea Trotman and Te Kaiamo Rogers-Smith. Junior English was won by Anipatene Biddle of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te Koutu. Te Mahara Swanson-Hall of John Paul College won the senior section. All four will compete at the national Nga Manu Korero contest in September in Porirua.

Local organiser and Rotorua Boys' High School teacher Wairangi Jones said there was a noticeable decrease in the number of Maori speakers this year.

"It's been going down progressively, while the English section still remains strong.

"It is a prestigious competition, getting students to come and compete is also a challenge - you are speaking in front of young people from all of the schools, kaumatua, kuia and judges. But that's what this competition does, it gives them the ability and confidence to handle fear of speaking in public," he said.