Young students proudly delivered their Tārērē Kōrero Māori (Reo Māori Speech competition) presentations in their respective native home island languages to an appreciative audience at the National Auditorium Dome on Monday evening.

Eighteen students from the islands of Atiu, Mauke, Mangaia, Mitiaro and from the schools of Nukutere, Papaaroa, Tereora and Titikaveka competed in the Tārērē Kōrero Māori ā te au 'Api'i Tuarua ō te Kūki 'Airani on Monday.

The students from the island of Mitiaro/Nukuroa were the last to arrive to Rarotonga on Monday afternoon and walked away with first prize in the Tārērē Kōrero Māori for both the Year 9 and 10 categories.

The Year 9 trophy for the theme Tāporoporo'anga i te Aorangi or Conserving our Environment speech was claimed by Ngatokoroa Ngatupuna from Mitiaro’s only school Apii Tematangarengare.

Tārērē Kōrero Māori ā te au 'Api'i Tuarua ō te Kūki 'Airani Year 9 - 1st Justin Ngatuakana – Nukuroa (left), 2nd Puani Iona - Enuamanu, 3rd Nelson Tamaka - Mauke. MELINA ETCHES. 23040402

“I was really nervous being up on the stage for my speech,” said Ngatupuna.

“It was nerve-wracking but I got through it.

“I spoke about how we need to be looking after our environment, and our ocean.

“People are careless and dumping litter and polluting our ocean which is damaging our sea life.”

“The Tārērē Kōrero Māori school competition also gave me a chance to express myself to the world,” he said.

The Year 10 speech theme Te Pu'apinga o te Reo Māori or The Significance of Reo Māori was won by Vincent Tua also from Mitiaro.

Kuraono Messine from Apii Araura, Aitutaki in the Tārērē Kōrero Māori. MELINA ETCHES. 23040410

Tua said: “We all need to be very happy and very proud of our Reo Māori.

“And if you are Māori, learn it like we have,” said Tua, who also  wanted to acknowledge his teachers for their support.

The Year 9 Tārērē Kōrero Māori speech competitors were: Apii Mangaia - Turner Lazaro, Apii Araura -  Kuraono Messine, Apii Titikaveka – Ngari Rae, Apii Enuamanu – Puani Iona, Apii Tereora – George Rouru, Apii Nukutere – Tania Teinaki, Apii Papaaroa - Ayden Ngai, Apii Mauke – Nelson Tamaka, Apii Nukuroa – Justin Ngatuakana.

Tania Teinaki from Apii Nukutere in the Tārērē Kōrero Māori. MELINA ETCHES. 23040411

The Year 10 Tārērē Kōrero Māori speech competitors were: Apii Nukutere - Apenisa Bogitini, Apii Tereora – Aporo William, Apii Mangaia – Sirrahmina Ngai, Apii Papaaroa - Kaareta Taoroba, Apii Titikaveka – Raelyn Brothers, Apii Mauke – Maunga Teaka, Apii Enuamanu – Tearoa Winton, Apii Nukuroa – Vincent Tua, Apii Araura – Pururangi Mataiti.

Te Tare'anga i te kai 'ōronga'anga rē (winner’s placings) from Monday night are: Year 9 - 1^st Justin Ngatuakana – Nukuroa, 2^nd Puani Iona - Enuamanu, 3^rd Nelson Tamaka - Mauke; Year 10 - 1^st Vincent Tua – Nukuroa, 2^nd Tearoa Winton – Enuamanu, 3^rd Maunga Teaka - Mauke.

Last night the Senior’s Year 11, 12 and 13 students presented their Tārērē Kōrero Māori speeches at the National Auditorium Dome.