Speech AWARDS TOPIC 2024:

Te Taura Tangata
The Rope of Unity

Speak your mind on race relations in Aotearoa

When
The 2024 Speech Awards heats, for year 11 to 13 students, took place between Thursday 21 and Thursday 28 March with the national final on Sunday 5 May.
 
 
 
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2024
Awards

 

Tohu Raukura ā-Motu – NZ Police National Champion’s Award

For the overall winner of the 2024 Race Unity Speech Awards.

Prize: $2000 – $1000 for the speaker, $1000 for their school

Raukura: feather plume, treasure. Recognising leadership, talent & achievement ā-Motu: national

Jessica Tupai

Jessica Tupai ★

St Mary's College, Wellington


 

Tohu Eke Panuku – Human Rights Commission Award for Impact

For a speaker providing an effective practical suggestion for ending racism and improving race relations in Aotearoa.

Prize: $500

Eke panuku: to hit home, win, gain victory, successfully overcome, to succeed, achieve, can be related to working through issues to achieve the appropriate solution.

Leo Mwape

Leo Mwape ★

Palmerston North Boys' High School


 

Tohu Ahurea Rau – Multicultural NZ Award for Diversity

For a speaker who fosters empathy and understanding of the cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Aotearoa. 

Prize: $500

Rau: hundreds or many. Ahurea: culture – carries connotations of coming together.

Caleb Jenkins

Caleb Jenkins ★

Selwyn College, Auckland


 

Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision

For a speaker who helps us envision Aotearoa’s future as a multicultural society founded on Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Prize: $500

Whetumatarau: many-pointed star – carries connotations of being aspirational for the future, doing or achieving great things.

Tanya Moeono

Tanya Moeono ★

Otago Girls' High School, Dunedin


 

Tohu Auahatanga – Speech NZ Award for Delivery

For a speaker whose creative and engaging delivery captures the audience’s attention.

Prize: $500

Auaha: Creativity, to shape, create, form, fashion, innovate

Jessica Tupai

Jessica Tupai ★

St Mary's College, Wellington

 
 

Tohu Māramatanga – Baha’i Community Award for Insight

For a speaker who provides deep insights into how we can bring about the oneness of humanity in Aotearoa.

Prize: $500

Māramatanga: enlightenment, insight, understanding, light, meaning, significance, brainwave

Jessica Tupai

Jessica Tupai ★

St Mary's College, Wellington


 

Tohu Aumangea – Hedi Moani Memorial Award for Advocacy

For a speaker who shows us how to stand up for our rights and the rights of others.

Prize: $500

Aumangea: advocate, campaigner, champion, promoter, proponent, upholder, supporter

Tanyn Wood

Tanyn Wood ★

St Peter's School, Cambridge


 

Tohu Manaakitanga – the Manukau Institute of Technology Award for Manaakitanga

For a speaker who demonstrates manaakitanga through ngakau (compassion) and aroha (empathy) in overcoming prejudice and building bonds of kotahitanga (unity).

Prize: $500

Manaakitanga: a broad Māori concept about the process of showing respect, generosity and caring for people.

Ansh Dhot

Ansh Dhot ★

Tauranga Girls' College


 

Tohu Manukura i te Reo – Māori Language Commission Award for te Reo Māori

For the speaker who uses te reo Māori most eloquently and effectively in their speech.

Prize: $500

Manukura: person held in high esteem, leader in council, leader.

Rewi Te Kani-Nankivell

Rewi Te Kani-Nankivell ★

Campion College, Gisborne


 
 
 
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RACE UNITY
SPEECH AWARDS

The Race Unity Speech Awards were initiated by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community in 2001 in support of Race Relations Day (21 March).

The speech topic this year is Te Taura Tangata – The Rope of Unity. We are wonderfully diverse, yet there is only one race: the human race. This is not just a biological fact. The wellbeing and progress of all parts of humanity are inextricably linked, like the fingers of one hand. Conflict holds back the progress of our species; cooperation and reciprocity are the true basis of human civilisation. Mutual support and cooperation is needed, not just among different groups of people, but between the individual, the community, and the institutions of society. In this vision of the human race, everyone has their own role to play in the eradication of racial prejudice and injustice, and the establishment of true unity.

For 23 years the Race Unity Speech Awards have opened the way for students to share their vision for race unity, and for 23 years the youth of Aotearoa have taken up this challenge with eloquence and courage. So, what will you do to move the waka of humanity forward towards race unity?

Read more →

RACE UNITY
HUI

Race Unity Hui are run in conjunction with the Speech Awards to give all young people an opportunity to be heard on race relations issues.

Race Unity Hui are spaces where young people advance the conversation about race relations in Aotearoa. This year we’re inviting all young people aged 15-30 to deepen their understanding of race issues and speak their mindson how we can become more just and unified as a society.

Read more →

 

Information for teachers

 
 

We’ve developed a pack of resources to help teachers support students interested in the Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui. These resources can also be used for any class or group of students interested in exploring contemporary race relations issues.

The Speech Awards provide an opportunity for students to develop the key competencies outlined in the curriculum:

  • Thinking skills – learning to use creative, critical, and meta-cognitive processes to make sense of information, experiences and ideas.

  • Managing self – self-motivation, a “can-do” attitude, and with students seeing themselves as capable learners.

  • Relating to others – the ability to listen actively, recognise different points of view, negotiate, and share ideas.

  • Participating and contributing – developing the capacity to contribute appropriately as a group member, to make connections with others in the group.  

The Race Unity Hui is also a great opportunity for students to learn about race relations issues. In past years a number of teachers have brought whole classes of students to the Hui, with great benefits for the students and the others attending the Hui.

Participation in the Speech Awards and Hui can be used as the basis for assessments and classroom activities in a range of subject areas, such as English, te reo Māori and Social Studies.