Jessica Tupai, Year 12 from Wellington’s St Mary’s College, was named the Race Unity Speech Awards National Champion for 2024 and received the Tohu Raukura ā-Motu – New Zealand Police National Champion’s Award.

New Zealand Police Deputy Chief Executive Iwi & Communities Pieri Munro said the discourse shared by rangatahi at the Race Unity Speech Awards was “nation-building”.

“We had seven beautiful orators from our whakatipuranga – our next generation… I want to acknowledge their tenacity and the key messages that they’re delivering, not just to this audience, not just to ministers, but to the whole country,” said Munro. 

Tupai also received the Tohu Māramatanga - Bahá’í Community Award for Insight - providing deep insights into how we can bring about the oneness of humanity in Aotearoa.

Member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of New Zealand Dr Audrey Aumua said Tupai put out a strong and significant challenge to Aotearoa.

Additionally, Tupai also received the Tohu Auahatanga - Speech NZ Award for Delivery: whose creative and engaging delivery captured the audience’s attention. 

Former Trustee of Speech NZ Meredith Caisley said Tupai’s message was not only memorable, but her delivery was also captivating.

Tanyn Wood, Year 12 from Cambridge’s St Peter’s School, received the Tohu Aumangea - Hedi Moani Memorial Award for Advocacy - demonstrating how to stand up for our rights and the rights of others.

A representative of the Hedi Moani Charitable Trust Kerry-Ann Stevenson said it was a blessing and an inspiration to hear the solutions put forward by rangatahi.

“It is a blessing to hear the voice of youth, it reflects the environment in which we live,” said Stevenson.

Ansh Dhot, Year 13 from Tauranga Girls’ College received the Tohu Manaakitanga - Manukau Institute of Technology Award for Manaakitanga - demonstrating manaakitanga through ngākau (compassion) and aroha (empathy) in overcoming prejudice and building bonds of kotahitanga (unity).

Esther Sovincet, Year 13 from Auckland’s Selwyn College, was named the Race Unity Speech Awards National Champion for 2023 and received the Tohu Raukura ā-Motu - NZ Police National Champion’s Award.

Chief judge NZ Police Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha said the calibre of speeches at this year’s Awards was extremely high. “The depth of the thinking that came through from these young people was absolute gold… It tells us that the future of this country is in good hands,” he said.
Sovincet also received the Tohu Auahatanga - Speech NZ Award for Delivery: whose creative and engaging delivery captured the audience’s attention.

Former Trustee of Speech NZ Meredith Caisley said Sonvicet’s address was lively and vibrant right throughout her entire delivery. “We promote the living speaker and we’re delighted to award Esther Sovincet with this award,” said Caisley.

Lena Ormsby, Year 13 from Hastings’ Karamu High School, received the Tohu Eke Panuku - Human Rights Commission Award for Impact - providing an effective practical suggestion for ending racism and improving race relations in Aotearoa.

Human Rights Commission lead advisor Kat Eghdamian said Ormsby spoke powerfully about how stereotypes damaged the fabric of society and offered practical examples on improving race relations.

“[She] gave really practical examples on how technology grants should be given to youth to create exclusive content that educates rangatahi on race relations.” Eghdamian said she would be taking Ormsby’s recommendations back to the Commission.

Leo Mwape, Year 12 from Palmerston North Boys’ High School received the Tohu Whetumatarau - Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision - helping to envision Aotearoa’s future as a multicultural society founded on Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Mwape also received the Tohu Manaakitanga - Manukau Institute of Technology Award for Manaakitanga - demonstrating manaakitanga through ngākau (compassion) and aroha (empathy) in overcoming prejudice and building bonds of kotahitanga (unity).
Operational Lead at Te Pūkenga - Unitec and Manukau Institute of Technology Martin Carroll said it was almost impossible to choose one recipient for this award.
“But Leo’s metaphor about the forest is fundamentally about everyone upholding everyone else’s mana as the key to social success,” said Carroll.
“That was a powerful message that you want everyone to hear.”

Year 12 student Sheryl Chand is calling for united and decisive action to dismantle racism and build real unity, including abolishing academic streaming in schools.

Sheryl is one of the first ever joint National Champions, alongside Joe Howells of Kerikeri High School.

Sheryl also won the Tohu Manaakitanga – the Manukau Institute of Technology Award for Manaakitanga.

Year 12 student Kamaia Moore of Iona College (Hawkes Bay) is calling out tokenism and has some clear ideas about how institutional changes can be made to dismantle racism.

Kamaia’s speech won her the Tohu Eke Panuku – Human Rights Commission Award for Impact at the Race Unity Speech Awards 2022

Year 12 student Takaimaania Ngata-Henare of Huanui College has ten steps we can all take to dismantle racism and build race unity.

Takaimaania's speech won her the Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision.

Tairawhiti student Jacqueline Te Kani-Nankivell (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi ki Ngāti Kahu) received Tohu Manukura i te Reo – Māori Language Commission Award for te Reo Māori in the 2022 national final of the awards. Jacqueline is a year 11 student at Campion College in Gisborne.

This was the first time in 12 years a student has won a prize in the national Race Unity Speech Awards for a speech entirely in te reo Māori.

Race Unity Speech Awards 2021 - Lucia-Tui Bernards from Tawa College gives her speech in the national final

Tohu Raukura ā-Motu – NZ Police National Champion’s Award

Tohu Eke Panuku – Human Rights Commission Award for Impact

Tohu Whetumatarau – Office of Ethnic Communities Award for Vision

Race Unity Speech Awards 2021 - Sheryl Chand from Solway College, Masterton, gives her speech in the national final.

Tohu Aumangea – Hedi Moani Memorial Award for Advocacy

Race Unity Speech Awards 2021 - Anagrace Poching, year 13 student at New Plymouth Girls High School - National Finalist

Race Unity Speech Awards 2020 - Jess Jenkins from Tawa College gives her speech in the national final

Tohu Raukura ā-Motu – NZ Police National Champion’s Award

Tohu Māramatanga – Baha’i Community Award for Insight

Race Unity Speech Awards 2020 - Ondre Hapuku-Lambert from Karamu High School gives his speech in the national final

Tohu Whetumatarau – Office of Ethnic Communities Award for Vision

Tohu Auahatanga – Speech NZ Award for Delivery

Race Unity Speech Awards 2020 - Jen Marsh from Otago Girls' High School gives her speech in the national final

Tohu Eke Panuku – Human Rights Commission Award for Impact

Tohu Manukura i te Reo – Māori Language Commission Award for te Reo Māori