Back-to-Back Champion Pou Ariki Hemara-Daniels Shines at Speech Contest

Pou Ariki Hemara-Daniels, a 14-year-old student from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rangi Āniwaniwa in Kaitaia, successfully defended his title at the prestigious Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competition, held in Whanganui last week. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the event, which celebrates the diverse voices of young orators across Aotearoa. Hemara-Daniels once again claimed victory in the Sir Turi Carroll Junior English category.

The Ngā Manu Kōrero competition is structured into four categories, two for junior students and two for seniors. The junior categories include Rāwhiti Ihaka Junior Reo Māori and Sir Turi Carroll, while the senior divisions feature Pei Te Hurinui Jones Senior Reo Māori and Korimako Senior English. In the senior categories, participants face the added challenge of delivering an impromptu speech with only five minutes to prepare.

Hemara-Daniels expressed his anticipation for the senior division next year, viewing it as the next stage of his speech journey. He emphasized the importance of physicality in delivering a compelling speech, stating, “Physicality can be a major point deduction or a major point enhancement. The more messier you are, the judges can’t really grasp onto your kōrero, so adding more cleaner and tidy actions can explain more of your kōrero.”

Despite experiencing pre-speech nerves, Hemara-Daniels managed to overcome them with relaxation exercises and hydration. “Before I got on, not going to lie, I was actually really, really nervous. The pressure was way higher than last year,” he admitted.

His winning speech, titled “Welcome to Hawaiki,” was adapted from its original version, “Welcome to the Far North,” due to the change in location for the competition. Hemara-Daniels explained that Hawaiki symbolizes the origins of the Māori people and serves as a connection to their roots. He described Hawaiki Hou, a modern interpretation of this concept, as a reminder for Māori to reconnect with their heritage.

“Hawaiki is a place where our tamariki are fed and happy, where whānau don’t have to choose between putting food on the table and leaving the lights on. Hawaiki Hou is where struggle isn’t always the headline,” he said.

Hemara-Daniels expressed pride in his back-to-back victories but sees these accomplishments as just the beginning. “In the future, I want to keep building these skills and use my voice for the benefit of my iwi and my wider community. My hope is that my journey can inspire other rangatahi to believe in themselves and know they can achieve it too.”

He also acknowledged the support he received throughout his journey, stating, “I just want to mihi to my whānau, my kura, and my teachers who stood by me and supported me all the way. Because these wins aren’t just mine; they belong to all of them too, because they believed in me and encouraged me.”

As Hemara-Daniels prepares for the challenges ahead, his journey serves as an inspiration for young speakers across Aotearoa, exemplifying the power of voice and the importance of community support in achieving success.