Past Speakers

TOPICS AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONS FROM 2001

Year Champion School Topic
2001 Yea Ji Sohn Rangitoto College, Auckland Living Together In Aotearoa/New Zealand – Unity in Diversity
2002 Roxanne PillayPakuranga College, AucklandOne Human Family – From Scientific Reality to Everyday Life
2003Xavier BlackDiocesan, AucklandFrom the head to the heart: beyond tolerance to the celebration of human Diversity
2004Riddhi GuptaPakuranga College, AucklandWho Is My Neighbour?
2005Georgina RoodSacred Heart College, Wellington“The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens”
2006Sashika SamaranayakaOtago Girls’ High School, Dunedin“….Kī mai ki ahau, he aha te mea nui ō tenei Ao? Māku e kī atu, he tangata (“Ask me, what is the greatest thing in all creation? I will tell you it is people, people, people.”)
2007Bridget ScanlanSacred Heart College, WellingtonThe Oneness of Humanity
2008Charon MasekaTaita College, WellingtonFinding Common ground / He Rapunga Tahitanga
2009Rayhan LangdanaWellington College, WellingtonGood neighbours come from all races and cultures
2010Aperahama HurihanganuiRotorua Boys' High SchoolDiversity in the human family
2011Lepau FeauSacred Heart College, AucklandPeople in harmony
2012Rima ShenoyQueen Margaret College, WellingtonA fair go for All / Rite tahi tatou katoa
2013Naomi KumarHillcrest High School, HamiltonMy dream for Aotearoa/New Zealand
2014Nguyen Thai An VoAuckland International CollegeI am Aotearoa/New Zealand…Te ranga tahi / Together We Grow
2015Kimberly D’MelloAquinas College, TaurangaBig change starts small
2016Te Ariki Te PuniPalmerston North Boys’ High SchoolStand up for race unity – don’t be a bystander!
2017Tauawhi BonillaTe Aute College, Central Hawkes BayStand up to racism – that’s us!
2018Hena DughHastings Girls' High SchoolGive nothing to racism
2019Robbie WhiteNew Plymouth Boys' High SchoolSpeaking for Justice, Working for Unity
2020Jess JenkinsTawa CollegeTitiro whakamuri, kia anga whakamua – To face the future, look to the past
2021Lucia-Tui BernardsTawa CollegeKia kotahi te hoe – Paddle as one
2022Sheryl ChandSolway CollegeNgā matimati nō te ringa kotahi – The fingers of one hand
Joe HowellsKerikeri High School [joint champion]
2023Esther SovincetSelwyn CollegeAwhihia te rito - Nurture the young
2024Jessica TupaiSt Mary’s College, WellingtonTe Taura Tangata - The Rope of Unity
2025Jordyn Joy PillayOrmiston Senior College, AucklandTe Moana Nui o Te Kanorau – The Great Ocean of Diversity