Kahui Ako Speech Competition

Evie and Isabelle's Recount

On the 4th of July 2024 the NSCS Kahui Ako Speech Competition was held at Carmel College. It was a magical experience for all the students who were involved. If we could use one word to describe it, it would be inspirational.

The people there were incredible writers and storytellers, with extraordinary and creative minds. We couldn't help but mention how great the judges were! The judges were Viki Trainor, who was a previous Lead Principal of the Kahui Ako, Katy Body, the Year 7 & 8 Curriculum Leader at Carmel College and Clare Letting, a Year 8 English teacher from Rosmini College. Personally we thought the judges were kind, compassionate and just plain amazing. The people in the audience were motivating and supportive. The Carmel students who helped us, including the MCs Lily Dwyer and Sophie Nehemia, were the nicest people, they made us laugh, smile and feel confident.

Whenever you think about speeches you can't help but worry about how scary the crowds are, but that's not the case at all, everyone was so kind and supportive you couldn't help but smile. All we can say is that the NSCS Kahui Ako Speech Competition was a big hit!

Written by Evie Alexander and Isabelle Upton, Year 6, St Mary’s Primary School

Noel's Recount (winner)

It was the day of the Kahui speech competition and I was feeling like I had butterflies in my stomach because I was one of the speech finalists. The Kahui speech competition was presented in a modern, warm theatre at Carmel College. All the speech finalists (including myself) from the Catholic primary schools in the North Shore competed in the Kahui speech competition. The students were from St Johns, St Leos, St Marys and St Josephs. I was representing St Joseph's School, Takapuna. There were three judges who were going to be marking and judging our speeches. There were about 60-70 people who were watching, including one class of Carmel students. 

With all the judges and the roar of the audience, I was now unbelievably anxious. I was the third person to deliver my speech and after I had finished my speech the crowd roared wildly for me and I felt as though I could say my speech 1000 more times.  All the speeches were of high quality and impressively incredible. There was a good range of speech topics like travelling, languages, camping and the environment. They must have had lots of kaha-courage to deliver such great speeches. 

After all the speech finalists finished delivering their speeches, we had a break and a snack. All the teachers, coordinators, and students of Carmel College were so friendly and welcoming. After we had a snack, we strolled back to the cosy theatre and listened to some of the Rosmini and Carmel students' speeches who were the previous Intermediate winners. This was so inspirational. Before the judges announced the winner they individually gave positive feedback and something that they could improve on to everyone that delivered a speech. Then the judges announced the place winners and I was awarded the 1st place winner of the Kahui speech competition. I was so happy I was lost for words. The Kahui speech competition was an unforgettable experience and it has motivated me to write more speeches.

Written by Noel Joseph, St Joseph's Primary School