Ngā Manu Kōrero

MAGS co-hosted the Ngā Manu Kōrero ki te Waitematā Māori speech competition, which was held at Ngā Puna o Waiōrea (Western Springs College) on Friday 11 June.

Our Te Puna o Wairaka students scored some top results at the regional Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competition even though they were up against students from full immersion schools.

Our speakers were:

Isaiah Nin, 12PNPAL (Korimako – Senior English section)
Sasha Tobin, 9PNWAL (Tā Turi Kara – Junior English section)
Awanui Hope, 9PNWAL (Rāwhiti Ihaka – Junior Māori section)

HoD Te Puna O Wairaka Waimirirangi Paul said, “They each stood with such confidence and made our school proud!”

Sasha placed 2nd-equal in her section with a student from Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae. They both also placed 1st-equal for best female speaker in their section.

Isaiah placed 5th overall (for prepared and impromptu speeches combined, despite a five-point time penalty), and Awanui placed 4th, having only missed out on 3rd place by five points, with the top three speakers all from Kura Kaupapa Māori (full immersion schools).

MAGS came back with two third-place trophies from the Ngā Manu Kōrero ki te Waitematā Regional Speech Competition at Ōrākei Marae on June 14.
Jackson Absolum (above right) competed in the Tā Turi Kara (Sir Turi Carroll) Junior English section, Te Waaka Popata-Henare (above centre) in Rāwhiti Ihaka Junior Māori, Richard Mann in Korimako Senior English, and Niua Pomare-Khanna (above left) in Pei Te Hurinui Senior Māori.
MAGS also co-hosted the junior stage, and it was a very successful day with Te Waaka (at left) taking third in Junior Māori and Niua (at right) third in Senior Māori. Jackson was seventh in Junior English, and Richard was ninth in the senior English section.
In Senior Māori, Niua did particularly well, competing against five full-immersion schools.

MAGS students competed strongly across all the categories at the Ngā Manu Kōrero ki te Waitematā regional speech competition.
At the annual regional Māori speech competition held this year at Ngāti Whātua o Ōrakei Marae, students competed in Junior English, Junior Māori, Senior English and Senior Māori.
This year, Charlotte Mann (Year 10), Isaiah Nin (Year 9), Richard Mann (Year 12) and Kaharau Mendes (Year 13) came first in MAGS’ competition so represented the school at the regionals.
In Junior English, Charlotte placed third overall and won best female speaker for her section. In Junior Māori, Isaiah Nin placed ninth overall.
Waimirirangi Paul, HoF Te Puna o Wairaka, said, “This was no mean feat as he went up against students from full-immersion schools who are fluent speakers of te reo.”
In Senior English, Richard placed seventh overall, and this was based on both an impromptu speech and a prepared speech. He improved two placings in comparison to last year.
In Senior Māori, Kaharau placed fourth overall, and this was also based on both an impromptu speech and a prepared speech.
Ms Paul said, “Kaharau’s achievement was of particular significance as he was competing against students from full-immersion schools who are very fluent speakers of te reo Māori and he was only points off third place.”
She added that all the students represented MAGS with pride and determination but it would not have been possible without the support of the school.

Four students represented MAGS at the Auckland finals of the Nga Manu Korero speech competition, held at Orakei marae on June 16.
Year 10 student Niua Pomare-Khanna came 3rd in the Junior Maori Rawhiti Ihaka category with his 12 minute speech on the importance of Maori retaining their language and cultural values. Another Year 10 student, Tayla Bamber, won the Junior English Sir Turi Carroll Award for her five minute speech titled “Education Opens Many Doors”. Tayla’s win qualified her for the National Nga Manu Korero competition in Taranaki in Term 3, where she performed extremely well.
Year 11 student Richard Mann and Year 13 student  Uenuku Malesala also did extremely well in their competitive categories that included speakers from Maori immersion schools.
Head of Te Puna o Wairaka Ms Waimirirangi Paul said the MAGS speakers were outstanding. “They presented compelling prepared and impromptu speeches in te reo Maori and English. They and the students who attended the hui in support were great representatives of the school.”