The nation’s most prestigious Māori speech competition will be streamed live on MĀORI+ from Jubilee Stadium in Whanganui from 8.00AM Tuesday and Wednesday 16-17 September 2025.

Whakaata Māori Kaihautū Shane Taurima says Ngā Manu Kōrero is a taonga that continues to grow the Māori leaders of tomorrow.

“For 60 years, Ngā Manu Kōrero has shaped the voice of Māori leadership. It’s where rangatahi rise with courage and conviction, giving life to our stories, our language, and our future. Whakaata Māori is proud to carry those voices to the nation and the world, showcasing the brilliance of the next generation.”

Kaihāpai Dr Rawiri Tinirau says Whanganui is proud to be the hosts of the 60th anniversary of this prestigious event.

“Ngā Manu Kōrero has been nurturing our rangatahi since 1965, providing a platform to articulate their views, raise important issues, and reaffirm their cultural identity. The competition contributes significantly not just to the personal development of our rangatahi - but also to the revitalisation of te reo Māori me ōna tikanga for future generations,” says Dr Tinirau..

Whakaata Māori will also broadcast a one-hour highlights programme on Saturday 20 September at 6.30pm. Clips of all speeches will be available on MĀORI+ for on-demand viewing.

Follow @TukuCollective on Instagram and TikTok for updates during the event.

This year’s speech subjects are:

TE REO MĀORI

1. E whai hua au me takahi tikanga?

2. He mea hanga tōku whare e te whakaaro nui, he mea whakaū e te mātauranga!

3. Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou

4. Ka ora tonu tātou!

5. Ko te tinana te waka kawe i te wairua me te hinengaro - tiakina

6. (Mā te tauira tonu e kōwhiri i tāna ake kaupapa kōrero)

ENGLISH

1. Are tikanga tick boxes?

2. Talent is a flame; genius is a fire!

3. The last beacon of light that will never fade

4. Ngā Manu Kōrero in 2085

5. Help me find my place

6. (Students may determine their own topic)

The competition began in 1965 as the Korimako Speech Competition with the aim of encouraging Māori students to develop skills and fluency in the English language.

Today, the competition includes English and te reo Māori with students competing in four divisions:

Seniors (Years 11, 12 & 13)

1. Pei Te Hurinui Jones Contest (Reo Māori, one prepared speech, one impromptu)

2. Korimako Contest (English, one prepared speech, one impromptu)

Juniors (Years 9 & 10)

3. Te Rāwhiti Ihaka Contest (Reo Māori, one speech)

4. Sir Turi Carroll Contest (English, one speech)

Past winners include Tawhirimatea Williams, Turanga Merito, Julian Wilcox, Dr Hinurewa Poutu, Ngatapa Black, Tamati Waaka, Raniera Blake and Sonny Maaka Ngatai..

ENDS

About MĀORI+: MĀORI+ is the digital gateway to te ao Māori – a free streaming app that brings together the best in Māori storytelling, language, news, haka and entertainment. Designed with whānau in mind, the platform is easy to navigate, available across devices, and constantly updated with fresh content. Download the app from Google Play or the Apple store. Watch online at www.maoriplus.co.nz

About Whakaata Māori: Whakaata Māori is Aotearoa New Zealand’s national indigenous media organisation, dedicated to revitalising and empowering te reo Māori, culture, and identity through storytelling.  Guided by the vision, kia mauriora te reo - a future where te reo Māori is spoken everywhere, every day - Whakaata Māori fosters an environment where the language and its cultural heritage can thrive.

Established in 2004, Whakaata Māori has delivered some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most cherished content, connecting audiences with stories that celebrate and uplift te reo Māori and Māori culture.

Māori Television trades under its reo Māori name to better reflect the role it plays in revitalising te reo Māori, our culture, and sharing our stories across multiple platforms. Whakaata means 'to mirror', 'to reflect' or 'to display.’ https://whakaatamaori.co.nz