WATCH: Schoolboy performs original waiata about Maori Battalion

A schoolboy who wrote and performed his own song has won the Supreme Award in a school competition honouring the 28th Māori Battalion.

Korakotaiwaha Kawana, a Year 8 student from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mana Tamariki in Palmerston North, composed "Moe mai rā ngā toa māia" to win $2100.

The competition, the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board Challenge, asks students to prepare a creative commemoration of the role that Māori played in the World Wars using 21st century tools.

Education minister Hekia Parata said Korakotaiwaha rose to that challenge with an outstanding original waiata which reflected the bravery and sacrifice of the battalion.

"His lyrics wove together the right and privilege of Māori to participate in battle and were beautifully sung," Ms Parata said.

The minister said the exciting calibre of this year's entries resulted in there being two winners of the Supreme Award, the second named as Year 12 student Rereao Taite.

Rereao was also from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mana Tamariki, and received the award for an artwork which focussed on Gallipoli.

The minister said it "commanded attention" through its exceptional use of colour, imagery, symbolism and lighting.

Prizes were awarded to nine entries from a total of 30 applications received.

Watch Korakotaiwaha perform another song alongside his whanau here: