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.

Te Hiku Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June. 2017.