The winners of Ngā Manu Kōrero 2025 have been announced, with many rangatahi taking out awards, celebrating the next generation of Māori orators.
The event marked its 60th anniversary this year, and the topics of discussion continued to provoke thought among Māori.
This year’s winner of the Pei Te Hurinui Jones, senior reo Māori section, Te Kahurangi Teinakore-Huaki of Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, in her prepared speech, spoke on the topic ‘E whai hua ai au, me takahi tikanga’ (We must reinterpret tikanga for me to grow) and spoke on the role of wahine carrying out duties of men and vice versa.
She says, the idea to talk about the kaupapa came from ‘from seeing men crossing roles and lanes.’
“I tēnei tau i tōia mai ahau te kaupapa ‘E whai hua ai au, me takahi tikanga.’ Ko tōku tirohanga ki te kaupapa nei, mehemea e tāea ana te tāne ki te karanga, ki te poi, ki te ngangahu, he aha te mate ki te tuku i ahau ki te haka, ki te kōrero, ki te karakia?”
Ngā Manu Kōrero 2025 Winners
The winners of this year’s Ngā Manu Kōrero Competition include:
Pei Te Hurinui Jones | Senior Reo Māori
1st: Te Kahurangi Teinakore-Huaki | Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa | Tainui
2nd: Charlie Casha | Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae |
Tāmaki Makaurau ki Te Waitematā
3rd: Tawari Te Hau-Grant | Hato Paora College | Manawatū
Rāwhiti Ihaka | Junior Reo Māori
1st: Atareta Milne | Te Kura o Te Koutu | Te Arawa
2nd: Taaroto Tuaupiki | Ngā Taiaatea Wharekura | Tainui
3rd: Malea Proctor | Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Uri a Māui | Te Tai Rāwhiti
Korimako | Senior English
1st: Scott Picard | Onslow college | Whanganui a-Tara ki Ōtaki
2nd: Jaya Marsters | Rotorua Girls’ High School | Te Arawa
3rd: Tiaria Potaka | Waikato Diocesan School for Girls | Tainui
Sir Turi Carroll | Junior English
1st: Pou Ariki Hemara-Daniel | Te KKM o Te Rangiāniwaniwa | Te Tai Tokerau
2nd: Hinekaporangi Rolleston | Te Wharekura o Mauao | Mataatua
3rd: Peata Raman | Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamatā | Te Arawa
Teinakore-Huaki says the preparation for the event was strenuous; however, the results are a ‘dream come true.’
“He nui ngā aupiki, ka piki, ka heke, ka heke, ka piki anō. Ko te kaha amuamu ki taku Māmā tētahi o ngā auheke, engari, nā tērā i pakari ai ahau. He nui ngā painga, he nui ngā mahi i tutuki i ahau, engari, kua ea i tēnei rā, ko ōku hiahia katoa kua ea i tēnei ra.”
Ka ora te reo Māori i ngā rangatahi
Kei te whakanuia tonutia te 50 tau o te wiki o te reo Māori e Aotearoa Whānui, ka mutu, ko ngā rangatahi i tū ki tekōrero ērā e kawe atu ana te reo Māori hei ngā tau e 50 e tū mai nei.
‘E kaha kitea ana te ora o te reo Māori i roto i ngā rangatahi,’ tā Teinakore-Huaki i kī ai, ā, ko te reo Māori tērā e rērere atu nā ki ngā wāhi katoa o Ngā Manu Kōrero.
Heoi anō, hei tāna, ehara i te mea me mutu noa tā te iwi Māori whakapakari i tōna anō reo.
“Ki te titiro ahau ki te 60 tau kua hipa, nā te mea, koinei te 60 tau o Ngā Manu Kōrero, me te 50 tau o te wiki o te reo Māori, kua tino kite ahau i te whanaketanga o te reo Māori. Engari, i ngā wā katoa e tāea ana te kounga ake.”
