国产午夜福鈥檚 College orators win Ng膩 Manu K艒rero honours
26 Jun 2025
In a remarkable double, 国产午夜福鈥檚 College Head Prefect Ihaka Cate and Year 10 student Pewhairangi Morgan will represent Waitaha (Canterbury) at the national Ng膩 Manu K艒rero M膩ori speech competition in Whanganui from 16鈥�18 September.
Ihaka has been named the overall Korimako Contest winner of the regional event held at Rangiora High School following his standout speeches in both the impromptu and prepared senior sections while Pewhairangi has won the Sir Turi Carroll Contest (Junior English) and finished 3rd in the Te R膩whiti Ihaka Contest (Junior M膩ori).
In its 60th year, Ng膩 Manu K艒rero 鈥渋s regarded as the most significant event on the M膩ori education calendar for nurturing oratory skills and providing the stage for young people to express their views and lay down their challenges鈥� to an audience of 鈥減eers, parents, wh膩nau, and judges鈥�.
For Ihaka, 鈥渋t has been truly amazing to stand at Ng膩 Manu K艒rero 2025鈥�.
鈥淭o represent myself, my family, my peers, and my school on a stage like this is such a huge privilege,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was a fulfilling kaupapa that really allowed me to embrace my M膩oritanga and wairua (spirit) in such an impactful way. I am truly grateful for being part of this amazing kaupapa and thank everyone for their help and support.鈥�
Ihaka points out that Pewhairangi鈥檚 achievements 鈥� at such a young age 鈥� on the Ng膩 Manu K艒rero stage are impressive.
鈥淗e delivered very powerful speeches on the importance of tikanga (customs) and the likes of valuing what鈥檚 important to you,鈥� Ihaka says. 鈥淧ewhairangi represented our school and his family very well and there was such power to his voice that the kaiwhakaw膩 (judges) simply couldn鈥檛 turn away from him.
鈥淥bviously, Pewhairangi is very pleased with the results of his k艒rero and we both are very much looking forward to the upcoming nationals.鈥�
(Kiniwai Morgan has accepted the award on behalf of his brother, Pewhairangi, at Assembly at College.)
Watch Ihaka's speech at 1:40:00 here 鈥�
