Teenage mum triumphs in speech competition

A Kaikohe teenager has proven that being a young mum is no barrier to academic success by winning a prestigious speech contest.

Northland College student Kahurina Cassidy is heading to the 2014 finals of the Lions Young Ambassador Award in Auckland after winning the regional contest in Kerikeri last week.

Kahurina left school in Year 10 to have a baby, returning this year to complete her NCEA qualifications so that she can study for a Bachelor of Social Work at Massey University next year.

Her speech, 'Teenage Mothers', outlined the challenges young mums face, the skills they need and the bad rap they get from society.

She challenged the audience at the Kerikeri RSA to look at teenage mums in a different light.

She won $1000 towards her study costs.

Organiser Maria Goodhew, of Opononi Lions, said the annual competition was open to Year 13 students and St John Cadets from Opononi and Kawakawa north. It is judged on a written CV, a one-on-one interview looking for leadership skills and community involvement, and a five-minute speech on a topic of the contestant's choice.

Mrs Goodhew said competition was tight. The other finalists were Nicola Ashdown (nominated by Kaikohe St John Cadets), Seshat Edmonds (Northland College), Zoe Gahegan (Kerikeri St John Cadets) Cuan van Zyl (Kerikeri High School/Kerikeri St John Cadets) and George Wilcox (Bay of Islands College). Cuan placed second and George third.

She said the evening was well supported by family, friends and Far North Lions clubs. It was sponsored by the Kerikeri Rotary Club.

This year's judges were Lindsay Laing (Tutukaka Coast Lions Club member and lecturer at the University of Auckland's Whangarei Campus), Willow-Jean Prime (Far North District councillor) and Hayden Clarke (property broker). The finals take place in Auckland in October.