A few thousand people were in Whangarei this week to watch youth from around the country showcase their oratory skills.
The Nga Manu Korero National Secondary School Speech Contest kicked off on Tuesday at ASB Stadium with a powhiri performed by Northland school students and the event finished yesterday.
Photographers Michael Cunningham and John Stone went along to capture the powerful powhiri and captivating speeches.
![Tangaroa Kapa from Kaitaia College was one of hundreds of Northland students who performed a powerful powhiri. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/M37FIC2UP2T4D32RWSL7P4YS5A.jpg?auth=0f7dc7246f71a83f64e617be915c28eafb4111cb2c7fec34c1c751eb418babe6&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
![Noah Peterson puts his heart into the powhiri to welcome guests and schools from outside of Northland to Nga Manu Korero. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/WGJHKXSROGWSGE3FEGWXCVLSZI.jpg?auth=afc8bd64e1e123343dcec01349d01d95001b287eb75859ea54dfa160779ebc18&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
![Ruia Itieli from Kaitaia College during the Nga Manu Korero powhiri. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/FTHUVWOMTBGUZLCW7Q3KRXH2AY.jpg?auth=41ac5bb9ee19f6af944f546a4c4811ef27f4ba303e6689fca0ee1930a0d56313&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
![Rehia Nikora-Rameka from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kaikohekohe represented Te Tai Tokerau in the Pei Te Hurinui Jones, Senior Maori category, of Nga Manu Korero. PHOTO/JOHN STONE](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/NED7V52EFMVGDC66YNXF5EFPKA.jpg?auth=fbca33c44d85203311eaedf4d739226bd11bb606b5dea837b7c2ab0658ee72bb&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)