A Whangārei teen will take to the stage next month hoping to help eradicate racism in the country and unite its people after making it to the national final of the Race Unity Speech Awards.
After a series of regional heats last week, Harshinni Nayyar, a Year 12 student at Whangārei Girls High School, was declared the Northland Champion and named a finalist for the competition to be held in Auckland on June 17-18.
Takaimaania Ngata-Henare, a Year 13 student and head girl at Huanui College, last year’s Northland joint champion and national finalist, was runner-up.
Efforts to eradicate racism in Aotearoa and unite its people, despite differences, were remarkably displayed during the regional heats of the Race Unity Speech Awards, Northland coordinator Nancy Rishworth said.
Numerous regional events were held across the motu from May 1-6 for secondary students, using the Race Unity Speech Awards platform to voice their input on race relations in Aotearoa.