Powhiri welcomes guests attending Nga Manu Korero speech contest

Students from Otamatea High School belted out a karanga (call) to welcome about 200 students and guests to a speech competition which is more than 50 years old.

The Te Tai Tokerau regional Nga Manu Korero Speech Contest kicked off at Otamatea High School yesterday with a beautiful powhiri and the Ta Himi Henare bilingual section.

Photographer Michael Cunningham captured the rousing haka and sweet singing.

Parekaahu Paikea, 16, from Kaiwaka welcomes guests to Otamatea High School.

Students from Otamatea perform a powerful haka.

Senior Otamatea High School students after they performed a rousing haka for guests.

Rau Morgan from Otamatea gives a mihi (speech).

Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis and the trophy which will go to the winner of the Ta Himi Henare section, a category exlcusive to Auckland.