Marlburians advance to Ngā Manu Kōrero nationals
Nationals qualifier Manaia Huntley, right, receives his Te Rongopai Trophy from English Judge Myron Elkington for the Ngā Manu Kōrero Regional at Marlborough Boys' Collegeon 12 June. Photo: Fiona Mark/MBC.
As Ngā Manu Kōrero rolls into its seventh decade, Marlborough will remain part of the story.
Manaia Huntley and Danniella Clarke qualified for the speech contest’s national competition 22-24 September in Kaikohe.
Manaia, from Marlborough Boys’ College, and Danniella, from Marlborough Girls’ College, won top trophies at the regionals for Top of the South on 12 June at MBC.
The secondary-school competition recognises fluency in English and te reo Māori.
Manaia placed first in four categories. He earned the Te Rongopai Trophy for Senior English Aggregate and Hine Takoto Wai Trophy for Senior English Impromptu.
Danniella qualified for nationals by virtue of winning the Paora Awatope Patu Memorial Trophy in Junior English.
Te Aio Nuku Sam from Richmond and Leighlarney Te Kawa-Wiremu from Nelson also secured spots at nationals. Leighlarney’s school, Nelson College for Girls, recorded the highest marks for a kura across all categories.
Oli Williams contributed to this report.
Ngā Manu Kōrero 2026 Qualifiers
Danniella Clarke
Te Heru o Te Hau | MGC
Manaia Huntley
Te Rei Puta o Te Hau | MBC
Te Aio Nuku Sam
TKKM o Tuia Te Matangi | Richmond
Leighlarney Te Kawa-Wiremu
Te Kāreti Tamawāhine o Whakatū | Nelson