SPEECH TOPIC 2024
Te Taura Tangata
The Rope of Unity
This year's Race Unity Speech Awards Topic highlights the value of social cohesion and community collaboration as “Te Taura Tangata / The Rope of Unity”. Fostering cohesion in Aotearoa / New Zealand through inclusivity, empathy, and respect for differing beliefs and diversity based on respectful relationships with each other and tangata whenua.
The metaphor of the ‘rope of unity’ symbolizes the idea that when people come together from different backgrounds they form a stronger, more resilient bond that can withstand the challenges of social division and build social cohesion. Just as the intertwining strands of a rope create a unified, cohesive whole that is stronger than each individual strand, unity among people creates a stronger unified society.
Ngā pātai / Questions
You must address at least two of the following five questions in your speech:
How can your positive and supportive actions promote unity by weaving cultural richness to form the Te Taura Tangata / The Rope of Unity, in your community?
What unique skills and qualities do you possess that you can use to support inclusivity and empathy in Aotearoa / New Zealand while influencing social policies and change for future generations?
Who are your role models in your whānau, family, community, school, marae, faith, kapa haka rōpū, or sports group? How has their influence supported your view of using Te Taura Tangata / The Rope of Unity, to build positive communities in Aotearoa / New Zealand?
What community changes that support Te Taura Tangata / The Rope of Unity, can improve social policies, laws, and Aotearoa / New Zealand interconnectedness?
What are some pūrākau (narratives / stories) you can share describing your cultural richness that will weave together Te Taura Tangata / The Rope of Unity?
Ngā whakatauākī me ngā whakataukī / Quotations and proverbs
You must also include at least one of the following proverbs or quotations in your speech:
Te Taura Tangata: Kia whiria te muka tangata, kia kotahi ai te taura pāpori.
The supreme need of humanity is cooperation and reciprocity. The stronger the ties of fellowship and solidarity amongst men [humanity], the greater will be the power of constructiveness and accomplishment in all the planes of human activity.
Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’i writings
A relevant whakatauāki, whakataukī, quotation, or proverb from your own faith or cultural background.
Ngā ture kōrero – Speech requirements
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.
Prizes for the National Final
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
Useful links and resources for speakers
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.
Judging and AWARDs
The purpose of judging the Race Unity Speech Awards is to find the speeches that will help move forward the public conversation about race relations in Aotearoa, so they can be heard by as many New Zealanders as possible.
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 also offered at the national level to recognise speeches for specific types of excellence, each with a prize of $500. For example, in 2022 special awards were offered for best use of te reo Māori; the best practical suggestion for improving race relations; and the most creative and engaging delivery, among others.
2,000
Students have participated in the Speech Awards since 2001
40,000
People have listened to these speeches in person
2,000,000
Views of these speeches online
900
Police officers, academics, government officials and other people of influence have served as judges of the Speech Awards