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Speech Awards

UNA NZ runs an annual high school speech award, involving schools across New Zealand on major UN related issues. It has become one of the highlights of our year and cumulates in the regional branch winners being funded to attend our National Conference and compete on a national level.

 

The 2021 Speech Awards are now open online! THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 30 JULY 2021!

Find instructions and the entry form here:

http://bit.ly/UNANZSpeechAward2021

 

Details on how to get involved and how it works:

  • Participants speak on a UN-related topic for 6-8 minutes
  • Researching the topic is really easy if you have access to a computer - there's a lot of information out there and we can provide information as well
  • The judges are from organisations like the Toastmasters, or they're UNA NZ high profile members or handpicked topic experts, so you'll get helpful feedback, and you'll be presenting to people in the know
  • The regional winners participate in the National Finals supported by UNA NZ
  • The National Final is held in conjunction with the UNA NZ National Conference, so you get a great opportunity to get involved in the social events, listen to the key speakers, and meet many interesting people.

 

The speech awards began 35 years ago in 1983. It was begun by UNA NZ Life Member Clinton Johnson. Winners have included Dr Diva Dhaya, young New Zealander of the year, Paula Tesiora, now Commissioner for Disabilities, Chris Bishop MP, and in 1997 and 1998 the Waikato winner was a contestant called Jacinda Ardern. So coming second can still have its rewards!

 

Secondary School Speech Award winner list: 1986–2019

1986 J. Danesh - Otago BHS

1987 M. Parkison - PAKURANGA COLLEGE

1988 J.A. Knight - BARADENE

1989 Gregor Fountain – WELLINGTON COLLEGE

1990 Tofigo Lilo - OTAHUHU COLLEGE

1992 Jasmyn Kara - RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL

1993 Emily Turnbull - RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL

1996 Tara Taukiri - RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL

1997 Jeffrey Abbot - WELLINGTON COLLEGE

1999 David Dewar - HUTT INTERNATIONAL BOYS’ SCHOOL

2000 Rebecca Rose - FAIRFIELD COLLEGE

2001 Christopher Bishop - HUTT INTERNATIONAL BOYS’ SCHOOL

2002 Phoebe Smith - LOGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL

2003 F. McKissack - FAIRFIELD COLLEGE

2004 Rachel Meadowcroft - GERALDINE HIGH SCHOOL

2005 Zaal Meher-Homji - ST PAUL’S COLLEGIATE

2006 Pramudie Gunoratne - AUCKLAND GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL

2007 Simon Todd - SAINT ANDREWS COLLEGE

2008 Georgia Ramsden - WANGANUI HIGH SCHOOL

2009 Dhaxna Sothieson - HILLCREST HIGH, HAMILTON

2010 Roneil Kintanar - ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE, SILVERSTREAM

2011 Byron Terris - SACRED HEART COLLEGE, AUCKLAND

2012 Jemima Lomax-Sawyers - ST MARY’S COLLEGE, WELLINGTON

2013 Tariq Kader - WELLINGTON COLLEGE

2014 Katie Mills - PAPANUI HIGH SCHOOL

2015 Cheska Saavedra - HAMILTON GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

2016 Sophie Clark - DIOCESAN SCHOOL

2017 Olivia Bennett - ST CUTHBERT’S COLLEGE

2018 Matthew Sutcliffe - WELLINGTON COLLEGE

2019 Dan Harward Jones - ONSLOW COLLEGE

 

View upcoming and past events on our news and events page

 

2018 Speech Award Report

The topic this year was very relevant to current UN and global issues:

How should we balance climate change issues versus economic growth in New Zealand? Are they mutually exclusive? It gave contestants plenty of scope, required judgements to be made as well as research into the issues.

Download report