A lesson across languages

A trip to Whanganui to compete in a national speech competition ended with Mareikura Nepia returning home with an extra special piece of luggage.

The Marlborough Girls’ College Year 12 student competed at the Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competition last week, both the Pei Te Hurinui Jones Contest in Te Reo Māori and Korimako Contest in English, coming home with the prized Lou Stafford E Tipu E Rewa taonga for gaining the top aggregate marks across both categories.

Mariekura’s chosen speech topic – ‘Mana wāhine is a sacred gift passed down through our ancestors’ – was one she decided on herself instead of relying on the five suggested topics.

“My main message in the speech was that I wasn’t there for the competition, winning, or anything like that, but I was there to remind all of our young wāhine that we are able to do anything in life ... just reminding them that we are a part of that whakapapa of powerful women”, she says.

“Learning the English one didn’t take that long actually, because I’m used to doing it in Māori which is a bit harder.”

Despite winning through the school and regional competitions, Mareikura knew the step up to the national competition would be tough.

“After both of those competitions, I really focused on the judges’ comments to improve going forward.

“Going to compete at the national competition was quite nerve wracking as I competed in the junior sections in year 10 and saw them compete on the first day, so I knew what the standard was two years ago but even at prizegiving, judges said this year the standard had just gone to another level.

“I didn’t really have a plan going into the impromptu sections, which was quite scary because I got back there - I was talking to others, and they’re asking me ‘what’s your plan?’ and I was like “Oh, I’ll freestyle, I guess.”

While Mareikura was hopeful she’d be rewarded for being one of the only entrants competing in both competitions, she was still taken aback when hearing her name.

“I walked off the stage, and everyone had already come over to me and my family had come up to watch the competition.

“It was a bit of a quick turnover because we had to catch our ferry but once we got home, my oldest sister and everyone was at home, and it was just really cool having that support from everyone there.”

And while she hopes to continue her public speaking, Mareikura says that the message is more important than who delivers it.

“What I do with Hāwaiki Kura has a wahine empowerment wānanga which is where the karakia and key messages came from.

“Since I was in both sections and won this taonga, I feel like that was me finishing my turn in this competition on a high note.”