Media Advisory – 18.03.2026

Race Unity Speech Awards 2026

Rangatahi want you to listen: students speak their mind on race relations in Aotearoa

More than 190 students from Northland to South Otago will share their perspectives on issues of race relations in Aotearoa at the Regional Heats of the annual Race Unity Speech Awards from Monday, 23 March to Saturday, 28 March.

Media are invited to any of the heats in the fifteen regions to hear the Year 11-13 students deliver their personal, heartfelt, and candid speeches. Details can be found here.

The topic for this year’s speech awards is Listening to Understand - Whakarongo Kia Mārama - an invitation to make a difference through deep listening and meaningful dialogue. An opportunity to understand different perspectives - dispelling misconceptions and prejudices.

These remarkable young people will also offer a vision of what our country could look like free from discrimination and how we can all join the conversation to promote harmonious relations between our diverse races and cultures across Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Listening starts with a pause,” says 2025 National Champion Jordyn Joy Pillay. “Turning down my volume to hear your voice. When you really listen, you are letting someone know they matter; they are special, and that their story has a place to belong.”

Speeches are around eight minutes long and are judged according to three criteria - content (50%), delivery (30%) and language (20%).

Regional Representatives chosen from the Regional Heats will attend a National Hui, semi-finals and final in Auckland on the weekend of May 9-10.

raceunity.nz/regionalheats2026

raceunity.nz/speech-awards-2026

ENDS

About the Awards

In Aotearoa, New Zealand, after a series of racially motivated attacks in 1997, the Baha’I community and then Race Relations Office organised a Unity in Diversity Rally. This led to the creation of Race Unity Day in 1999, now known as Race Relations Day. The Race Unity Speech Awards are held in support of Race Relations Day and have been run by the Baha’I community for twenty-six years.

The Baha’is in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the future of society and of the nature and purpose of life.

The Hui and Speech Awards are organised by the New Zealand Baha’i Community and are sponsored and supported by the New Zealand Police, Multicultural New Zealand, the Human Rights Commission, Mana Mokopuna - Children’s Commissioner, Manukau Institute of Technology, the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Speech New Zealand, the Hedi Moani Charitable Trust, the NZ National Commission for UNESCO, and Studio Marque.