Nga Manu Korero Finals in Whangarei

During the last week of Term 3, Ahi Kaitai-Mullane represented our school and region at the Manu Korero National Finals in Whangarei.  To get there, she had to win the Regional Nga Manu Korero competition in Invercargill.  Which she did.  Ahi was representing in the Senior English category, and asked me to attend in support.  I was honoured to do so.

We were also supporting students from Otago Boys' High School, Otago Girls' High School and Kings' High School, who were representing in Senior Maori, Junior English and Junior Maori respectively.

It was wonderful to have students and staff from all four schools come together and work as one.  Too often high schools tend to compete against each other for students.  This was a refreshing change.  If only it could be like this more often! Imagine what could be achieved with collaboration rather than competition.  Anyway, I digress ...

Ahi's prepared speech was very powerful.
You should also watch the support haka from our four schools.  I'm the petrified one hiding in the back behind our very capable students (we had 24 hours to learn it).



We also managed to visit the Treaty of Waitangi grounds, which was pretty special.  I had a real sense of our history there, and it was made extra special by the fact that all Otago schools were on the grounds at the same time practising their waiata.

We had to do the rollercoasters!

Auckland

Waiata at Waitangi

Our crew at Waitangi

Shae, Chelsea, Hope-Jane, Ahi and Emma represent Logan Park High School and Otakou/Murihiku

Otago schools unite

Whangarei palm trees

Practising

Matuas waiting

Waitangi treaty grounds

Where we stayed

More fantastic videos, including Ahi's impromptu speech, can be found here.