Te Ariki Te Puni has once again demonstrated his wonderful oratory skills to win the National Race Unity Speech Competition in Auckland. Feedback from Superintendent, Mr Wallace Haumaha, described his speech as being extremely well-crafted, linking the key themes and issues that prevent young people dealing with discrimination and prejudice in our schools and communities. The ability to link his narrative to the true meaning of our National Anthem and Haka allowed the audience to reconsider and challenge their own beliefs around what it means to be a New Zealander. Te Ariki will be formally presented this award by Dame Susan Davoy, the N.Z Race Relations Commissioner, and Mr Wallace Haumaha in an upcoming school assembly.
The competition was initiated by the NZ Baha’i Community in 2001, and it now runs in 14 regions throughout the country The Race Unity Speech Award celebrates the diversity of cultures and races. Principal sponsors are the NZ Police, with sponsorship and support from the Human Rights Commission, the Office of Ethnic Communities, the NZ Federation of Multicultural Councils and Speech NZ.
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