Ngā Manu Kōrero: uplifting the voices of tomorrow

He taoka tuku iho – The 2025 Ngā Manu Kōrero regionals are kicking off, with Ōtakau and Murihiku students preparing to take the stage in Ōtepoti at Dunedin Town Hall over the next three days.

Ngā Manu Kōrero is a platform for amplifying the voices of our rakatahi and Māori identity, where the art of oratory meets the challenges and hopes of a new generation. For decades, this national speech competition has helped shape the leaders of tomorrow, creating space for bold, kaupapa Māori-led thinking.

Our young leaders will gather to share their whakaaro, stand proudly in their reo and carry the mana of their hapū, iwi and whānau. We encourage whānau, educators and community members to come along and tautoko these rising leaders.

Dates, details and hītori of the competition are outlined below. 

Hītori

Ngā Manu Kōrero began in 1965 as the Korimako Speech Contest, created to improve fluency in English among Māori students. While it served a practical purpose in its time, the competition quickly grew into something greater – a space where the aspirations, frustrations and dreams of young Māori could be expressed and heard.

By 1977, a te reo Māori section was added, recognising the importance of Māori language in the identity and future of rakatahi. In 1983, a junior competition was introduced, followed by a separate te reo Māori section for junior speakers in 1987. That same year, the competition was officially renamed Ngā Manu Kōrero (the birds that speak), honouring the diversity and strength of Māori voices from across the motu.

How the Competition Works

Ngā Manu Kōrero is divided into four sections:

·       Korimako – Senior English (Years 11–13)

·       Pei Te Hurinui Jones – Senior Māori (Years 11–13)

·       Sir Turi Carroll – Junior English (Years 9–10)

·       Rāwhiti Ihaka – Junior Māori (Years 9–10)

Students give prepared and impromptu speeches in their respective languages. Topics are often bold, contemporary and deeply personal – ranging from the revitalisation of te reo Māori and tino rangatiratanga, to racism, climate change and the ongoing impact of colonisation. In each speech, you hear the voice of a generation determined to challenge the status quo and imagine a better future.


Kāi Tahu and Ngā Manu Kōrero in Te Waipounamu

While the competition has long been embraced by iwi and kura in Te Ika-a-Māui, Kāi Tahu involvement in Ngā Manu Kōrero has grown steadily over recent decades, reflecting a wider movement of cultural revitalisation within the iwi. As te reo Māori and tikaka have regained strength across the takiwā, so too has the presence of Kāi Tahu rakatahi on the national stage.

Today, more than ever, kura in Te Waipounamu are producing confident, articulate speakers who bring a distinctly southern voice to the kaupapa – shaped by the reo, values and whakapapa of their tīpuna.

Te Waipounamu Regionals 2025

As part of the 2025 regional competitions, the following events will be taking place across Te Waipounamu:

Ōtākou / Murihiku

Ngā Manu Kōrero Speech Competitions
Dunedin Town Hall
Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 May

Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competitions
Dunedin Town Hall
Sunday 15 June

Waitaha

Ngā Manu Kōrero Speech Competitions
Rangiora High School
Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 June

Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competitions
Venue TBC
Saturday 16 August

Why it matters

Ngā Manu Kōrero is more than a competition. It’s a place where the challenges of today are brought to the forefront by those who will inherit tomorrow. For Māori youth navigating a world shaped by colonisation, climate anxiety, systemic inequity and the digital age, this kaupapa is a powerful way to affirm who they are and where they come from.

It is also a space of hope – where reo is reclaimed, confidence is built and the next generation steps forward, not just as speakers, but as kaitiaki of our culture, our whenua and our future.