Outstanding Orator - Bilingual speech delight for Manaia

He may just be in year nine, but the power with which Marlborough Boys’ College’s Manaia Huntley speaks across two languages is remarkable.

Thirteen-year-old Manaia won the Te Rāwhiti Ihaka Junior Te Reo Māori, the Sir Turi Carroll Junior English, and best overall speaker at the Ngā Manu Kōrero ā Rohe speech competition hosted in May by Marlborough Girls’ College,

Manaia will now represent the top of the South Island in both English and Te Reo Māori speeches this September at the Ngā Manu Kōrero National competition at Auckland’s Spark Arena.

The Paora Awatope Patu Memorial Trophy, Willie Luke Memorial Trophy and "Te Takoha Aroha" in memory of Aunty Lou (Te Riutoto) Stafford Trophy were welcomed to Marlborough Boys College last Wednesday by Year 9 and 10 students, with Manaia’s family in attendance.

Manaia recited his speeches on the assigned topics of “He mamae poto, he oranga roa” (short term pain for long term success) and “My whānau would make the best reality TV”.

“The Ngā Manu Kōrero speeches were months of work in the making”, says Manaia.

“My Te Reo speech is about my koro suffering a brain aneurysm, relating it to my own health experience having had a brain tumour, and how medicine progresses to help everyone.

“Speaking about my family being a reality show, with my mum, dad, stepmum, six siblings and massive extended whanau, just came more naturally”.

Manaia memorised his English speech in approximately a month and a half and workshopped his Te Reo speech alongside MBC Māori teaching staff for three months.

“At the competition, I had all my mates who spoke sitting behind me so looking into a crowd of familiar faces felt easier than today”, Manaia comments.

“I’m not sure why that is, but speaking to a crowd of my peers was much more nerve-wracking today”.

“The nationals are still a while away, so I’m unsure how to feel yet but I’m sure the excitement will build as it gets closer and I’m going to continue working on my speeches and delivery for the national stage”.

Proud parents Tahu and Laura Huntley have been blown away by the dedication Manaia has shown for his public speaking.

“I don’t think any of us quite realised how fluent and confident Manaia is in Te Reo, but he and his Kaiako here have been putting in a massive effort to get his speech to the point it is now”, says Laura.

“I’m super proud he has the confidence for public speaking at such a young age, and it’s really testament to the hard work he put in coming into school over the holidays to work with Kaiako”, agreed Tahu.

MBC Principal John Kendal says that the college basks in Manaia’s accomplishments, as Manaia and fellow students understand success achieved with the support of his whanau and Kaiako.

“It’s not often you have a student able to speak with such mana in both Te Reo and English”, says John.

“But I think what is so remarkable is that Manaia has found something that is ‘his thing’, but he has humility and relatability on and off the stage, he’s another student kicking a ball around with mates.

“Manaia’s success lifts the profile of public speaking in the school, with students keen to have a crack at not only the public speaking but as part of their Te Reo learning journey”.