Students excel at speech competition

ORATOR: Jack Potaka prefers his impromptu speeches over his prepared speeches. PHOTO/FILE A-160414BF3

Three Rotorua secondary school students have scooped several awards at the prestigious Nga Manu Korero competition in Hawke's Bay.

The competition on Thursday had many of the country's young orators covering both serious and light-hearted topics.

Western Heights High School Year 13 student Te Rangimonoa Rangihau walked away with first overall in the senior Maori section and best male speaker.

Year 13 student Jack Potaka from Rotorua Boys' High School was awarded first for his impromptu speech and received second overall for the senior English section.

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata student Michael Rangihau won first overall for the junior Maori section.

Rotorua Girls' High School student Te Wai Merito also represented her school in the competition.

Jack said he was pleased with the results and that "everyone did exceptionally well".

"It was a really good competition and having the impromptu section before the prepared section may have thrown some people, but I think it actually ended up working in my favour.

"All the students from Rotorua did the city proud at the competition."

Full results:

Sir Turi Kara, Junior English

First: Nikau Te Hiku, Hato Paora College

Second: Debra-Wai Henare, Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae

Third: Peri Belmont, Lindisfarne College

Te Rawhiti Ihaka, Junior Maori

First: Michael Rangihau, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata

Second: Mareikura Nathan, St Joseph's Maori Girls' College

Third: Kaanihi Butler-Hare, Te Ara Whanui Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Kohanga Reo o Te Awakairangi

Best Junior Female Speaker

Mareikura Nathan, St Joseph's Maori Girls' College

Korimako, Senior English

First: Sonny Ngatai, Hato Paora College

Second: Jack Potaka, Rotorua Boys' High School

Third: Te Whati Kihi-Waikato, Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga

Best Impromptu

Jack Potaka from Rotorua Boys' High School

Best Prepared

Te Whati Kihi-Waikato, Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga

Pei Te Hurinui Jones, Senior Maori

First: Te Rangimonoa Rangihau, Western Heights High School

Second: Akuira Tiakiwai, Te Wharekura o Ruatoki and Poutoa Papali'I, Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae

Third: Taane Flanagan from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Whanau Tahi

Best Impromptu

Te Rangimonoa Rangihau, Western Heights High School

Best Senior Female

Te Paea Ngapo, Nga Taiaatea Wharekura

Best Senior Male

Te Rangimonoa Rangihau, Western Heights High School

E Tipu E Rea Trophy

Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae