Waihuia Thein wows at speech contest
We’re incredibly proud of Waihuia Thein’s impressive performance at the the Ngā Manu Kōrero regionals – placing 4th overall in the highly competitive Korimako (senior English) section..
It’s the most prestigious Māori secondary school speech competition in the country. Running since 1965, it’s all about giving rangatahi (youth) a powerful platform to find their voices, develop leadership, and celebrate who they are.
This was our school's very first time ever attending this event, and Waihuia represented us so incredibly well – in both sections of the competition.
The Prepared Speech (8 minutes): Speaking on the topic ‘Home: The place your soul bookmarks’, Waihuia delivered a beautiful, moving speech. She wove together her experiences at Northcote College, school camps, and whānau with her unique Māori, Chinese, and Malaysian whakapapa. It completely touched the hearts of everyone listening.
The Impromptu Speech (3 minutes): Talk about pressure! She was given a list of four topics, had just 5 minutes to prepare, and then had to speak for 3 minutes straight in front of 150 people. She absolutely nailed it, using her time to deliver an inspiring call-to-action encouraging everyone in the room to register and vote.
The atmosphere was incredible. Waihuia spoke with so much confidence and pride. Afterward, teachers and students from other schools came up to acknowledge her for such a moving, powerful performance. She has truly inspired other students at our school to join in and take part next year!