27 September 2006

RNZRSA National Secondary Schools Speech Competition

Ereti Williams

The RNZRSA National Secondary Schools Speech Competition Final, held at Parliament today, and won by Ereti Williams (Tauranga Girls' College) representing the Waikato – King Country – Bay of Plenty District, was summed up by the National President John Campbell in one word "Stunning!".

Ereti Williams won $5,000 and is the inaugural winner of the RNZRSA National Secondary Schools Speech Competition Trophy, to be competed for on an annual basis.

Miss Williams will attend and speak at the RNZRSA 90th Annual General Meeting to be held in Wellington on 6-8 November 2006.

Each Finalist was presented with the following prizes for winning their District Finals: $1000 and an inscribed 90th Anniversary Commemorative Plaque, an RSA Junior Membership Badge, and the Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History for their school.

The RNZRSA thanks the Lion Foundation and all the contestants, family and supporters at the regional and national finals for their involvement this year and eagerly looks forward to the 2007 Competition.

The 2006 National Finalists were:

Northland District:

Paul Waggott (Whangarei Boys' High School)

Auckland District:

Rachel Bowden (Long Bay College, North Shore)

Waikato–King Country–Bay of Plenty District:

Ereti Williams (Tauranga Girls' College)
             NATIONAL WINNER

Wairarapa–Hawkes Bay–East Coast District:

Ellie Craft (Gisborne Girls' High School)

Wellington–Taranaki–West Coast District:

Nik Bruce-Smith (Newlands College, Wellington)
             THIRD PLACE

Nelson–Marlborough–Westland District:

Eliana Gray (Nayland College, Stoke)

Canterbury District:

Niko Elsen (Roncalli College, Timaru)

Otago–Southland District:

Emily Mason (James Hargest College, Invercargill)
             RUNNER-UP

The competition

The RNZRSA with the support of the Lion Foundation is holding a National Secondary Schools Speech Competition to commemorate its 90th Anniversary in the ‘Year of the Veteran’.

Speech subject: ‘New Zealanders at War’.

This subject matter embraces New Zealanders who served in the South Africa War, World War I, World War II, the occupation force in Japan, the Korean War, operations in Malaya and Borneo, Vietnam War, Afghanistan, and numerous Peacekeeping operations such as East Timor and the Middle East.

Speechmakers may choose a particular war/operation or to cover them collectively; or they may choose to profile a veteran; or an aspect of the commemoration of war (ANZAC Day/war memorials).

Eligibility: Year 12 and 13 students who are able to travel independently to Regional and National competitions. Travel and associated expenses to the Regional Finals and the National Final will be met by RNZRSA.

Speech duration: 6–8 minutes

Competition prizes:

• Regional Winner $1000
• National Winner $5000

In Brief
What: RNZRSA National Secondary Schools Speech Competition Final
When: 27 Sep 2006