Airing time: Your choice, on-demand
For over 20 years the Race Unity Speech Awards have opened the way for students to share their vision for race unity, and for over 20 years the youth of Aotearoa have taken up this challenge with eloquence and courage. Senior high school students from across Aotearoa present their speeches in regional heats. Speeches are around 8 minutes long and focus on a central topic. The winners of the local heats go on to participate in the national semi-finals and, if successful at that level, go on to the national final.
The topic for the Speech Awards is often aligned with the theme for Race Relations Day that year:
2023: Awhihia Te Rito - Nurture the Young
2022: Ngā matimati nō te ringa Kotahi – The fingers of one hand
2021: Kia Kotahi te Hoe – Paddle as One
2019: Speaking for Justice, Working for Unity
Each year, Access Radio Taranaki 104.4FM is invited to record the Taranaki heats, and those speeches can be heard here.
The Race Unity Speech Awards were initiated by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community in 2001 in support of Race Relations Day (21 March) and are supported by NZ Police, the Human Rights Commission, the Office of Ethnic Communities and the Hedi Moani Charitable Trust.
“More and more New Zealanders are recognising that we must address racial prejudice and injustice if we want a harmonious and unified country. But in a world that is becoming increasingly polarised, how do we make sure our efforts create real unity? We must all grapple with these issues, but we see youth as champions promoting racial harmony. Their views and opinions really matter.” – Mervyn Chivers, New Plymouth Baha’I Community
Podcasts
Click on the title of an episode to listen
Race Unity Speeches 2023_South Taranaki
Awhihia Te Rito - Nurture the Young
Our rangatahi speak their minds on race relations in Aotearoa
Duration: 00:51:49 | Date: 25 June, 2023
Race Unity Speeches 2023_New Plymouth
Awhihia Te Rito - Nurture the Young
Our rangatahi speak their minds on race relations in Aotearoa
Duration: 00:51:49 | Date: 18 June, 2023
Race Unity Speeches 2022_New Plymouth Heat
This year the topic is: Ngā matimati nō te ringa Kotahi – The fingers of one hand
Duration: 00:40:24 | Date: 9 July, 2022
Race Unity Speeches 2022 - South Taranaki Heat
This year the topic is: Ngā matimati nō te ringa Kotahi – The fingers of one hand
Duration: 00:41:28 | Date: 2 July, 2022
Race Unity Speeches 2021 Part 2
This year, over two episodes we hear speeches from Ignatius Sofeni-Williams FDMC, Germaine Singh-Grewal FDMC, Mika Doron Spotsward, Krishay Lah Hawera, Rhys Donovan NPBHS, Tayla Steel Hawera, Sophie Bovett NPGHS, Para Jamnani NPBHS, Anagrace Poaching NPGHS, who was the winner for the regionals and was a national finalist.
Duration: 00:40:43 | Date: 15 May, 2021
Race Unity Speeches 2021 Part 1
This year, over two episodes we hear speeches from Ignatius Sofeni-Williams FDMC, Germaine Singh-Grewal FDMC, Mika Doron Spotsward, Krishay Lah Hawera, Rhys Donovan NPBHS, Tayla Steel Hawera, Sophie Bovett NPGHS, Para Jamnani NPBHS, Anagrace Poaching NPGHS, who was the winner for the regionals and was a national finalist.
Duration: 00:42:52 | Date: 8 May, 2021
Race Unity Speeches 2019
This year we hear speeches from Adriana, Asha Battar, Jeremy Johnstone, Tania Bagar, Vameka Satresala, and Robbie White, who won the regionals and nationals.
Duration: 00:56:16 | Date: 14 June, 2019