Ngā Manu Kōrero is a speech competition for secondary students that encourages fluency in te reo Māori and English.
The contest began in 1965 as the Korimako Speech Contest.[1] Sir Bernard Fergusson donated a trophy to encourage greater English fluency in Māori students. School and regional competitions were organised by the Post Primary Teachers' Association and Māori Education Foundation (now Māori Education Trust) with a national final in August 1965.[2]
In 1977, the Pei Te Hurinui Jones Contest was added for senior Māori oratory. Three years later, a junior English section was introduced, with a taonga for the section provided by Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Tairoa in memory of Sir Turi Carroll, and three years after that, the junior Māori oratory section, Rāwhiti Īhaka, was added.
In 1987, after considerable growth in the competition, it was renamed 'Ngā Whakataetae mō Ngā Manu Kōrero o Ngā Kura Tuarua', generally shortened to Ngā Manu Kōrero.
In 2020, the competition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, it was moved online.[3]
The competition has four divisions:
Named in honour of Dr Pei Te Hurinui Jones,[4] a Waikato elder and scholar who died in 1976,[5] this section is for Senior students and consists of two speeches in te reo Māori, one prepared and the other impromptu.
Named in honour of Rāwhiti Ihaka, a skilled orator and teacher at St Stephens School, this section is for Junior students and consists of one prepared speech in te reo Māori.
The Korimako Contest is for Senior* students and consists of two speeches in English, one prepared and the other impromptu.
Named in honour of Sir Turi Carroll, Ngāti Kahungunu leader and orator, this section is for Junior* students and consists of a prepared speech in English.
| 1965 | NO COMPETITION | Donna Awatere | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1966 | NO COMPETITION | Pamela Bennett | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1967 | NO COMPETITION | Rawinia Paku | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1968 | NO COMPETITION | Raelene Beauchamp | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1969 | NO COMPETITION | Peata Munroe | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1970 | NO COMPETITION | Philip Munroe | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1971 | NO COMPETITION | Margaret Mary Gordon | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1972 | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1973 | NO COMPETITION | Prudence Kapua | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1974 | NO COMPETITION | Robert Kerehome | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1975 | NO COMPETITION | Len Maxwell | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1976 | NO COMPETITION | Kevin Wehipeihana | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1977 | Vicki Wehi | Lillian Hetet | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1978 | Raniera Te Moni | John Waititi | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1979 | Mauriora Kingi | Aroaro Hona | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 1980 | Derek Lardelli | Karen Hoko Te Moana | NO COMPETITION | Darrin Apanui | |
| 1981 | William Te Aho | Dale Timma | NO COMPETITION | Rata Kamau | |
| 1982 | William Te Aho | Kara Shortland | NO COMPETITION | Keri Milne | |
| 1983 | Te Awanui Timutimu | Margaret Edwards | Martin Simeon | Keri Milne | |
| 1984 | Wai Eruera | Keri Milne | Wayne Wills | Erina Hurihanganui | |
| 1985 | Hans Tiakiwai | Marama Ormsby | Kupe Kaka | Dallas Cribb | |
| 1986 | Nicholas Ngaropo | Rebecca Davis | Lisa Lumsden | Derryn Milne | |
| 1987 | Ruia Abraham | Katie Paul | Tamehana Ngaropo | Kane Milne | |
| 1988 | Christine Ward | Shane Heremaia | Te Aroha Paenga | Kane Milne | |
| 1989 | Paul Brooking | Eugene Hapi | Ian Nepia | Tony Murray | |
| 1990 | Coby Karauria | Jeremy Lambert | Len Lopata | Asia Tawhai | |
| 1991 | Hinematioro Nohotima | Tajim Mohammed | Ngatapa Black | Jason Ruhe | |
| 1992 | Tony Murray | Wiremu Diamond | Desmond Tawhi | Jason Ruhe | |
| 1993 | Pateriki McGarvey | Julian Wilcox | Tamati Waaka | Reuben Whakamoe | |
| 1994 | Pateriki McGarvey | Wesley Hema | Paraone Gloyne | Stephen Comrie | |
| 1995 | Tamati Waaka | Parehuia Heke | Marseilles Copper | Graeme Rakuraku | |
| 1996 | Tamati Waaka | Cushla Pou-Haereiti | Pumi Tumai | Chantelle Herbert | |
| 1997 | Tamati Waaka | Regan Pepere | Tawhirimatea Williams | Patricia Tauraeiki | |
| 1998 | Kingi Kiriona | Kingi Kiriona | Tawhirimatea Williams | Hinenui Tipoki-Lawton | |
| 1999 | Pumi Tumai | Kingi Kiriona | James Teepa | Sarah Thornley | |
| 2000 | Hinurewa Poutu | Hinurewa Poutu | Te Ingo Ngaia | Chardel Kiriona | |
| 2001 | Tawhirimatea Williams | Jasmine Turei & Turanga Merito | Ropiha Anderson | Brendan Solomon | |
| 2002 | Tawhirimatea Williams | Tell Kuka | Richard Hohua | Tai Kahe-Katterns | |
| 2003 | Whitiaua Black | Makareta McGavock | Nawaia Watene | Eruera Manuel | |
| 2004 | Whitiaua Black | Weronika Grace | Rapaera Tawhai | Levi Te Ahorangi Ferris | |
| 2005 | Mangere Teka | Ngira Simmonds | Kawiti Waetford | Tania Matua | |
| 2006 | Hona Black | Aidan Allen | Kimiora-Kaire Melbourne | Matariki Cribb | |
| 2007 | Tupoutahi Winiata-Kaipara | Ibrahim Soloman | Te Ataakura Pewhairangi | Cruz Karauti Fox | |
| 2008 | Tokoaitua Winiata | Rihari Ratahi | Rākai-Hākeke Whauwhau | Mitchell Spence | |
| 2009 | Te Wairere Ngaia | Kani Rickard | Keria Paki | Taylor Taranaki | |
| 2010 | Hera Winitana | Soraya Kamau | Kaharau Keogh | Evana Schnikel | |
| 2011 | Hoera Kereama | Pereteruruoteramana Wihongi | Ahurei Kaaho Winiata | Zion Otimi-Whanga-Papa | |
| 2012 | Kaharau Keogh | Rangimārie Teautama | Te Aranga Hakiwai | Shayla Fiaui | |
| 2013 | Raniera Blake | Sonny Ngatai | Matawhaiti Nepe-Pohatu | Karen Cribb | |
| 2014 | Te Rangimoana Rangihau | Sonny Ngatai | Michael Rangihau | Nikau Te Huki | |
| 2015 | Akuira Tiakiwai | Te Ariki Te Puni | Kaanihi Butler-Hare | Moana Cook | |
| 2016 | Paumea Walker | Hinepounamu Apanui-Barr | Tangirau Papa | Hetera'a Mahana Tahau-Hodges | |
| 2017 | Whakaue Winiata | Piripi Gordon | Ngawairere Pihama | Shay Witehira | |
| 2018 | Maia Takitimu | Tuimaleali'ifano Fiso | Te Ākauroa Jacob | Sophia 'Unga-Cribb | |
| 2019 | Hinewai Netana-Williams | Manaia Sorenson | Tanekaha Mariu-Rangi | Paretoroa Webster-Tarei | |
| 2020 | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | NO COMPETITION | |
| 2021 | Te Ākauroa Jacob | Khalia Wilson | H'zel Hetaraka | Aria Komene | |
| 2022 | Heremia McGarvey | Reihana Heemi Teriaki | Epiha Muru-Kete | Tuck Kahukuranui | |
| 2023 | Elite Reti | Maro Preston | Charlie Casha | Tuhingaia Manihere | |
| 2024 | Te Kanawa Wilson | Tuhingaia Manihere | Kahurere Whauwhau | Pou Ariki Hemara-Daniels |