Tauranga Girls' College student Emily McCarthy's dream for harmonious race relations in New Zealand has won her a spot at the National Race Unity Speech Awards.
The Year 12 student recently won the regional competition with her speech ‘My dream for Aotearoa New Zealand'.
Tauranga Girls' College student Emily McCarthy was crowned the 2013 Race Unity Speech Award winner.
As her prize Emily will travel to Auckland to compete against other regional winners at a national semi-final on Friday, April 5.
If successful, she will participate in the national finals and have the opportunity to participate in the annual Race Unity Conference on April 6.
The Chief Judge of the regional competition Toastmaster's Christine Meyer says Emily's speech was 'excellent.”
'The amount of research she did was evident. When personal experiences were shared within the speeches they brought that moment to life for the hearer.”
The judging panel also included Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Clifford Paxton and Mr Hohepa Maxwell.
Initiated by the NZ Baha'i Community in 2001, the Race Unity Speech Awards have been sponsored by the New Zealand Police for the past six years and are supported by the Human Rights Commission and the Office of Ethnic Affairs.
General Manager of Maori, Pacific and Ethnic Services for the NZ Police Superintendent Wallace Haumaha believes the awards are a great opportunity to give young people in New Zealand the opportunity to spread the unity message of positive race relations.
The contest, which supports Race Relations Day, held on March 21, aims at celebrating the diversity of cultures and races in New Zealand.
Emily will be presented with a shield at a school assembly to mark her regional win where she will deliver her speech to the whole school.
6 comments
Celebrations
Posted on 28-03-2013 10:21 | By YOGI
When the treaty settlements are finally over, although if history is anything to go by the feasters will be back for another slurp from the through sooner enough. On a much beter front, the speach must have been good as ...
racial equality comes first
Posted on 28-03-2013 14:49 | By Major Think
Racial harmony will come with racial equality. At the moment, non-maori are racially discriminated against every day. Maori are able to get all sorts of racial privileges, grants, scholarships, special treatment etc. Don't believe me? Check on any university website and see all the scholarships available where the requirement is the applicants must be maori/pacific islander. Check it out!
together
Posted on 28-03-2013 16:44 | By traceybjammet
congrats to this young lady for heading in the direction we have all wanted to go for many years and what the original treaty was written about harmony.
Congratulations Emily
Posted on 28-03-2013 18:22 | By Calm Gully
Sounds like a great idea. How come everyone isn't given the choice for elections ( General V Maori)? Seems one sided and racist to me!
race?
Posted on 28-03-2013 20:48 | By sojourner
God created only one race: the human race. All our differences are based on cultural differences. If we could get that right in our divisive heads and heart, in our particular arrogances,we would be capable of working through those issues with a lot more grace.
race?
Posted on 28-03-2013 20:48 | By sojourner
God created only one race: the human race. All our differences are based on cultural differences. If we could get that right in our divisive heads and heart, in our particular arrogances,we would be capable of working through those issues with a lot more grace.
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