Ngā Manu Kōrero
Khalia Wilson - Ngā Manu Korero Nationals 2021
Earlier in the year, year 11 tauira Khalia Wilson represented our kura at the Te Tai Tokerau Regional Nga Manu Korero competition. As one of the youngest competitors in her section of Korimako/Senior English she delivered a witty 3 minute impromptu speech (written in the 5 minutes prior to her walking on stage) followed by a powerful 7 minute prepared speech, during which she was not allowed any memory prompts or cues. She was flawless.
Following in the footsteps of her previous tuakana Wynyard Peeni and Nickania Leef, Khalia brought the Korimako trophy back to Kamo, which has been its home since 2019. Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kamo has fought for a top placing at the National competition for three years.
It is with great pride and pleasure that we announce Khalia Wilson as the winner of Ngā Manu Korero Nationals 2021 in the Korimako section. We are all very proud of her and this amazing achievement not only for her, but for our kura, our community and Te Tai Tokerau.
We acknowledge the team that supported Khalia on this journey. Her whānau, her peers, the kaiako of the Māori department, and the lead kaiako of Manu Kōrero Whaea Mataaria Tautali.
2019
From 5-7 June students from schools in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) went head to head at Ngā Manu Korero Regional speech competition at Northland College in the heart of Ngāpuhi, Kaikohe; an event that was broadcasted live on both Ngati Hine and Tautoko FM. This year Kamo High entered into four of five categories of the prestigious competition, namely, Junior Maori (Rawhiti Ihaka), Bilingual (Tā Himi Henare), Junior English (Tā Turi Kara) and Senior English (Korimako). Notwithstanding, each student was placed in the top three of their category.
With only one year of Te Reo Māori under her belt, Tia Clarke-Baker was placed 2nd equal in the Junior Māori section which is predominated by students from Kura Kaupapa/Māori Immersion-Medium schools. Following in good stead behind her was Dymoneec Mangu-Thompson whose 12 minute speech in Māori and English had her gain 3rd place. In the Junior English division, Khalia Wilson came in 2nd equal place, while in the Senior English, Nikania Leef blew the competition out of the water with her 6 minute prepared speech and impromptu, which gained her 1st place. Also to be commended are the other contenders from the internal school competition who were: Jazz Barclay, Kaea Bercic, Bronwyn Clifford, Kaiah Ramsbottom, Nathan Toko and Matiu Tohu. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.
The Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competitions are intended to encourage the development of skills and confidence of Māori high school students in spoken English and Māori. Our students will now represent Te Tai Tokerau at the 53rd National Manu Kōrero Competition to be held at the Regent on Broadway in Palmerston North on Tuesday 10th – Thursday 12th September. In a special powhiri held on the afternoon of Monday 10 June, at the school's recently named Whare-Nui 'Te Puna a Rehua', whose whakairo (carvings) were unveiled earlier that day, these students, their support group and their taonga, were welcomed back to school alongside several Chinese students visiting from Zhuzhou No.13 High School and another exceptional young wahine, Jordana Naera. The latter has attained the highest level of Māu Rākau - Pourua from Te Whare Tuu Taua o Aotearoa in under two years.
Congratulations to all place winners, their whanau and support crew, for your outstanding achievements and the honour you have placed on us as a school, community and region. This extends to include the exceptional work and dedication of the Māori Department led by Whaea Awarua Savage and Koea Kaka. He mihi, he mihi, he mihi.
Na Ms Juanita Craig (Languages Department)
2018
Te Hiku Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June. 2017.