2026 Awards

Tohu Raukura ā-Motu
NZ Police National Champion’s Award

Awarded to the overall winner of the 2026 Race Unity Speech Awards

Recognises leadership in advancing the national conversation, talent and achievement.

AWARDED TO:

Amanjot Singh — Hastings Boys High School

Tohu Māramatanga
Bahá’í Community Award for Insight

Honours a speaker for insights into the oneness of humanity and constructive approaches to overcoming racism in Aotearoa.

AWARDED TO:

Sisilia Misa — Middleton Grange School

Tohu Ahurea Rau
Multicultural New Zealand Award for Diversity

Honours a speaker for empathy and understanding of the cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Aotearoa.

AWARDED TO:

Kylie Arada — Southern Cross Campus

Tohu Auahatanga
Speech New Zealand Award for Delivery

This award Is given to the speaker whose creative and engaging delivery captures the audience’s attention. 

AWARDED TO:

Paora Tavake — Dilworth School

Tohu Aumangea
Hedi Moani Memorial Award for Advocacy

For a speaker who shows us how to stand up for our rights and the rights of others.

AWARDED TO:

Lukas Strohmeier
— Francis Douglas Memorial College

Tohu Manaakitanga
The Manukau Institute of Technology & Unitec Award for Manaakitanga.

Is for a speaker who demonstrates manaakitanga through ngakau (compassion) and aroha (empathy) in overcoming prejudice and building bonds of kotahitanga (unity).

AWARDED TO:

Amanjot Singh — Hastings Boys High School

Tohu Whetumatarau
Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision

Is for a speaker who helps listeners to envision Aotearoa’s future as a multicultural society founded on Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

AWARDED TO:

Amanjot Singh — Hastings Boys High School

Tohu Manukura i Te Reo
Māori Language Commission Award for Te Reo Māori

Recognises the speaker who uses te reo Māori most eloquently and effectively in their speech.

AWARDED TO:

Malak Tamimi — Queen’s High School

Tohu Eke Panuku
Human Rights Commission Award for Impact

Recognises a speaker for offering an effective practical suggestion for ending racism and improving race relations in Aotearoa.

AWARDED TO:

Malak Tamimi — Queen’s High School

RACE UNITY
SPEECH AWARDS

The Race Unity Speech Awards were initiated by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community in 2001 in support of Race Relations Day (21 March).

We are wonderfully diverse, yet there is only one race: the human race. This is not just a biological fact. The wellbeing and progress of all parts of humanity are inextricably linked, like the fingers of one hand. Conflict holds back the progress of our species; cooperation and reciprocity are the true basis of human civilisation. Mutual support and cooperation is needed, not just among different groups of people, but between the individual, the community, and the institutions of society. In this vision of the human race, everyone has their own role to play in the eradication of racial prejudice and injustice, and the establishment of true unity.

For 25 years the Race Unity Speech Awards have opened the way for students to share their vision for race unity. So, what will you do to move the waka of humanity forward towards race unity?

Read more →

RACE UNITY
HUI

National Race Unity Hui

The Hui in 2026 will be designed for the 21 National Semi-finalists. The primary objective of the Hui is engaging participants fully, so they leave the Hui with new insights, new friendships and new energy for their contribution to racial harmony in Aotearoa.