Iwi speech makers win three awards

Te Arawa are celebrating their success at the Nga Manu Korero speech competition in Dunedin.
A team of four speakers proudly represented their iwi at the National secondary school speech contest where they brought back three trophies from the three-day competition this week.
Rotorua Boys' High School student Jordi Webber took second place in the senior English section, Western Heights High School student Vanessa Parakai was second in the junior English and Herea Winitana of Ahorangi, a home-based school in Turangi, was the overall winner of the senior Maori section.
Fellow Ahorangi student Tautahanga Rameka was placed fourth in the junior Maori speeches.
Rotorua Boys' High School teacher Wairangi Jones was part of the 50-strong support group that travelled with the team.
He said he was proud of the students' achievements which continued Te Arawa's strong history at the competition.
"We as teachers had an inkling that they were going to do well because they were so powerful at the regionals," Mr Jones said.
"They stood out because of the strength of their speeches, their ability to use their language whether it was Maori or English, their presence on stage and their ability to hold an audience of thousands of people."
Mr Jones said the students had strong family backgrounds which helped with their success.
"Some of the ingredients have been the students' natural talent but there is a relentless strive for perfection from teachers and families to help them be the very best they can be."
The event was held at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin. Next year's Nga Manu Korero competition will be held in Tauranga.