Te reo is thriving in Rotorua if the standard of the Waiariki Rangatahi Oratory Competition is anything to go by.
The number of students taking part at this year's competition, run by the Maori Women's Welfare League, is the biggest so far.
President of the Rotorua branch Hariata Johnson said
they had tried hard to get schools to take part this year and were pleased with the result - with 14 schools from around the district represented and more than 40 speakers turning up to Tunohopu Marae yesterday.
Speakers ranging in age from 10 to 18 competed in the junior, intermediate and senior categories with the top male and female speaker in each category going through to the national Nga Pu Korero o Apopo Competition.
Mrs Johnson said not only was the number of speakers pleasing, but also the large number of supporters the competition attracted. All speeches were delivered in te reo and students selected from several topics including Kaupapa Maori.
