Punjabi Teen Amanjot Singh Wins NZ National Speech Title with Powerful Message on ‘Racism’
Media Story by NZ Punjabi News
Amonjot Singh (Photos/ RUSA/ David St George)
Punjabi-origin student Amanjot Singh has made the community proud after winning New Zealand’s prestigious Race Unity Speech Awards 2026 with a powerful speech centred on racism, identity and understanding people beyond appearances.
The Year 13 student from Hastings Boys’ High School claimed the national title during the grand finals held in Auckland, where top secondary school speakers from across the country competed after progressing through regional rounds.
This year’s theme, “Listening to Understand – Whakarongo kia mārama”, encouraged students to speak openly about race relations, diversity and social harmony in New Zealand.
Amanjot’s speech strongly connected with both judges and the audience as he spoke about the experiences many young people from migrant backgrounds face while growing up in New Zealand. His message focused on how people are often judged based on appearance, culture or background before they are truly understood.
The competition is organised annually by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community and is considered one of the country’s leading youth platforms promoting racial harmony, inclusion and cross-cultural understanding. Students from different schools across New Zealand take part in regional competitions before reaching the national finals.
Ahead of the finals, Amanjot had also shared personal reflections on racial stereotypes and identity, speaking about the importance of listening to people with understanding rather than making assumptions based on how they look or where they come from.
The national finals were held at Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae in Ōtara, Auckland, bringing together students, teachers and community representatives from different cultural backgrounds.
Following his victory, congratulatory messages poured in from supporters, schools and community members across New Zealand. Many described the achievement as a proud moment for the Punjabi community, saying Amanjot had represented young Punjabi voices confidently on a national platform while promoting a message of unity and empathy.
His win is also being celebrated in Hawke’s Bay, where locals praised the teenager for bringing national recognition to both his school and community through a speech that highlighted the importance of understanding and respect in an increasingly diverse New Zealand.