| When The 2026 Speech Awards Regional Heats, for year 11 to 13 students, will take place between Monday 23rd and Saturday 28th March. |
A recurring theme in the Youth Statements from the Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui is that listening to understand can foster empathy, respect and trust across diverse racial and ethnic groups. Listening to unfamiliar histories and perspectives enlightens us, building appreciation of the diversity in culture, experience and thought. Listening to understand allows us to recognise shared values and question the prejudices and biases in ourselves, our institutions and communities. This kind of deep listening also builds rapport and opens the way for a dialogue where perspectives and beliefs can shift.
The connections and inclusion offered by deep listening and dialogue are becoming even more vital as we see more New Zealanders becoming socially disconnected or even hopeless. What do you think is the way forward? What can we do to build an inclusive society characterised by racial equality and appreciation of diversity?
You must address at least two of the following questions in your speech:
How can ‘Listening to Understand’ help individuals respond to the challenges of diversity and isolation in our society?
How can leaders demonstrate what ‘Listening to Understand’ looks like in schools, workplaces, community organisations, government or elsewhere?
What have you learned from elders, leaders, or role models about the actions, attitudes and values we can spread to replace racism? How do you intend to apply what you have learned?
Listening to understand is distinctly different to listening to rebut or criticise. How can genuine listening lead to improved racial harmony in Aotearoa New Zealand? What actions need to follow listening to improve racial harmony?
How do we create and sustain anti-racism practices that prioritise building connections, inclusion and dispelling prejudices over confronting or fighting racism?
You must incorporate in your speech at least one of the following proverbs or quotations:
Mā te rongo, ka mōhio
Mā te mōhio, ka mātau
Mā te mātau, ka mārama
Mā te mārama, ka ora.
Through listening comes awareness;
through awareness, knowledge;
through knowledge, enlightenment; and
through enlightenment, wellbeing.
When you meet those whose opinions differ from your own, do not turn away your face from them. All are seeking truth, and there are many roads leading thereto. Truth has many aspects, but it remains always and forever one. - Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’i writings
A relevant whakatauāki, whakataukī, quotation, or proverb from your own faith or cultural background.
Language – Speeches can be delivered in English and/or te reo Māori. Speakers are welcome to speak in other languages as well, so long as this content is repeated in either English or te reo Māori.
Length – Speeches should be around 8 minutes long. Timing signals will be given at 7 and 8 minutes. The judges may take the length of a speech into account if it is very long or very short.
Equipment – Handheld microphones and lecterns are not used. Speeches will be amplified at the national final using a lapel microphone.
National champion: $2,000 to be shared: $1,000 each for the school and the winning student
Other awards: Other awards of up to $500 will also be presented - more information to follow
www.youtube.com/RaceUnity – this is the YouTube channel for the Race Unity Speech Awards. Have a look through the finalists’ speeches from previous years to get inspiration for your own speech. How can you build on what has already been said?
unteachracism.nz – this website is designed for teachers but includes an engaging video from Taika Waititi talking to his 8-year-old self.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/398168/new-zealand-s-racism-far-more-casual-than-elsewhere-says-academic – Ekant Veer speaks of navigating racism throughout his life as an Indian man born and raised in the UK and now living in NZ.
belong.org.nz/passthemic/anti-racism-resources – information and guidance to give you the tools and confidence to help challenge racism, gathered by Belong Aotearoa.
www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/land-of-the-long-white-cloud/story/2018721660/land-of-the-long-white-cloud-episode-3-recognising-racism – Andrew Judd, was elected Mayor of New Plymouth in 2013. He gives an interesting perspective of a Pakeha ‘recovering racist’ and how laws and policies are often built on racist ideas.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYmonkA4e80 – listen to rangatahi Tāmati Cunningham speak of his tūrangawaewae and how this helps him be his best self.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/333077/new-zealanders-suffering-in-silence-from-racism – finally another Taika Waititi video, he asks us to give nothing to racism.
For me, a metaphor that can capture and amplify the theme is the key to crafting my speech. I am sharing my initial thoughts on a metaphor to spark your creativity.
Listening is vital. It is at the heart of human connection. And, like our heartbeat, listening is soft and steady. The heart sustains everything we are and everything we do. Listening plays that exact same role in our communities. It is commonly overlooked, but that is where all human connection stems from, right?
We often celebrate the big things, the loud, revolutionary things, but change, unity, true harmony can start with listening. That is like the role our heart has in our body. Replenishing all the amazing parts of our body is the heart - quiet, and steady. Behind the scenes, listening is that quiet act that keeps our communities alive. Just like our heartbeat, let's be honest, we only truly notice its importance when it's no longer there.
Just like us, without our hearts, we cannot sustain ourselves; we will not be alive. Just like that, listening keeps our connections and communities alive.
Another possible metaphor is rhythm and harmony. Listening starts with a pause, 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.
– Jordyn Joy Pillay
The purpose of judging the Race Unity Speech Awards is to select and amplify the speeches that will help advance the national conversation about race relations and social cohesion in Aotearoa. The selected speeches are promoted by our partners and on social media to make them available to as many New Zealanders as possible.
This year, your permission is requested to make a video recording of your speech at your regional heat so that all speeches are available to a broader audience.
Speeches are judged according to three criteria:
Content (50%) – How could the views and ideas in your speech advance race relations in Aotearoa? Judges will be especially interested in your practical suggestions for improving race relations.
Delivery (30%) – Did you deliver those views and ideas in a way that was memorable and impactful for the audience? Judges will be particularly keen to see creative and engaging approaches to delivery.
Language (20%) – How accurately and effectively did you use language to convey those views and ideas? Judges will look at all the languages you use in your speech, with some consideration given to whether you’re speaking in a second language.
The top speakers in each region advance to the national level. The top speaker at the national level receives the NZ Police National Champion’s Award, with a prize of $2000 ($1000 for the speaker and $1000 for their school).
Special awards are offered at the national final to recognise speakers for specific types of excellence, as outlined below. In addition, the 6 or 7 national finalists receive an equal share of the $4,000 award monies.
Students have participated in the Speech Awards since 2001
People have listened to these speeches in person
Views of these speeches online
Police officers, academics, government officials and other people of influence have served as judges of the Speech Awards
