The National Final was held in the Legislature Council Chamber, Parliament
on Monday, 25 August 2008.
The National Final Winner was Raphael Mobegi (Karamu High School,
Hastings), whose speech addressed the meaning of New Zealanders'
service and sacrifice throughout our history, and paying special tribute
to the memory of a New Zealand soldier in World War I who was killed
trying to save a fellow soldier. In accepting the title, Raphael, who
migrated to New Zealand from Kenya eighteen months ago, expressed his
delight but also how privileged he felt to be able to honour the memory
of New Zealand service personnel.
In recognition of the 90th Anniversary of the Armistice speechmakers
were encouraged to embrace New Zealand’s contribution to the First
World War, either in its totality or to profile an individual New Zealander’s
experience, to examine its legacy or an aspect of its commemoration.
The subject matter ‘New Zealanders at War – Honouring
Their Service’ also enabled students to embrace New
Zealanders who had served in any conflict overseas.
Each District Finalist was presented with $1,000 prize money, an engraved
RNZRSA Plaque and a RSA Junior Membership Badge. Their respective schools
each received a copy of The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military
History together with a cheque for $1,000. Raphael received a further
$5,000 prize money as the winner of the RNZRSA National Secondary Schools
Speech Competition Trophy for 2007. His school also received a further
$1,000.
Raphael will deliver his speech at the National Council Meeting in
October as a special guest of the RNZRSA.
Raphael intends to use the prize money to support his studies next
year at Victoria University where he intends to study law and music.
We wish Raphael all the best for the future.
The 2008 National Finalists were:
Northland District:
Simon Watson (Pompallier Catholic College, Whangarei)
Auckland District:
Bonnie Sheerin (Tangaroa College, Otara)
Waikato–King Country–Bay of Plenty District:
Humphrey Shand (Rotorua Boys' High School)
Wairarapa–Hawkes Bay–East Coast District:
Raphael Mobegi
(Karamu High School, Hastings) NATIONAL WINNER
Wellington–Taranaki–West Coast District:
Brooke Muggeridge (New Plymouth Girls High School)
Nelson–Marlborough–Westland District:
Colleen Merrick (Garin College, Nelson) Runner-up
Canterbury District:
Scott Summerfield (Ashburton College) 3rd Place
Otago–Southland District:
Amber Hosking (Queen's High School, Dunedin)
2007
Chloe Muggeridge
The National Final was held in the Legislature Council Chamber, Parliament
on Wednesday, 5 September 2007. The National Final Winner was Chloe
Muggeridge (New Plymouth Girls’ High School), speaking
on the subject of the life and death of Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone
on Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, on 8 August 1915.
In recognition of the 90th Anniversary of Passchendaele, speechmakers
were encouraged to embrace New Zealand’s contribution to this
Campaign either in its totality or to profile an individual New Zealander’s
experience, to examine the legacy of Passchendaele for New Zealand or
an aspect of its commemoration. The subject matter ‘New Zealanders
at War’ also enabled students to embrace New Zealanders who had
served in any conflict overseas.
Each District Finalist was presented with $1,000 prize money, an engraved
RNZRSA Plaque and a RSA Junior Membership Badge. Their respective schools
each received a copy of the Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military
History together with a cheque for $1,000. Chloe received a further
$5,000 prize money as the winner of the RNZRSA National Secondary Schools
Speech Competition Trophy for 2007. Her school also received a further
$1,000.
Chloe delivered her speech at the National Council Meeting in October
2007 as a special guest of the RNZRSA. We wish Chloe all the best for
the future.
The 2007 National Finalists were:
Northland District:
Shaun Kennedy (Whangarei Boys’ High School)
Auckland District:
Mat Martin (Sacred Heart College)
Waikato–King Country–Bay of Plenty District:
Timothy Whalley (John Paul College, Rotorua)
Wairarapa–Hawkes Bay–East Coast District:
Shawn Dickson (Wairoa College)
Wellington–Taranaki–West Coast District:
Chloe Muggeridge
(New Plymouth Girls’ High School) NATIONAL WINNER
Nelson–Marlborough–Westland District:
Sally West (Marlborough Girls’ College)
Canterbury District:
Scott Summerfield (Ashburton High Schoo)l
Otago–Southland District:
Daniel Luoni (Gore High School)
RNZRSA thanks the Lion Foundation, Toastmasters NZ, all the contestants,
their families and supporters at the regional and national finals for
their involvement.
2006
Ereti Williams
The RNZRSA National Secondary Schools Speech Competition Final, held
at Parliament, 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.
Since winning the Speech Final Ereti Williams delivered her speech
at the Formal Opening of the 2006 RNZRSA National Conference in front
of the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and 500 delegates and guests
as well as live on the Na Ratou, Mo Tatou Let's Honour Them Together
ANZAC Day Broadcast on Maori Television. We wish Ereti all the best
in the future.
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
