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The Maori world's rangatahi are in Taradale this week for the 49th Nga Manu Korero speech competitions.
Going on past events, it's where the orators and leaders of the future will show themselves.
Judge Jeremy Taatere McLeod from hosts Ngati Kahungunu says in a change this year the competitons opened with the impromptu speeches, which are considered the hardest to pull off.
He was impressed with the overall quality and the simple yet eloquent use of language.
Mr McLeod says with the number of Maori language speakers emerging from kura, the judges need to acknowledge it is time for the youth to develop their own style of language.
"To a certain extent it's time we resigned some of our formal ways to the history books, not all of it but I think rangatahi need to find their own style. That's been the most pleasing thing for me, that I've actually heard the thoughts of rangatahi. It's been the thoughts of youth. It's not the thoughts of their teachers they are conveying but they are articulating their own beliefs and that's my real acknowledgement of this Manu Korero," he says.
The competition ends today.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH JEREMY TAATERE MCLEOD CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjI1MTM=
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