South Taranaki Heat for Race Unity Speech Awards

This year marks the 10th year of the Race Unity Speech Awards in Taranaki, and every year we have been impressed and inspired by the quality of the ideas we have heard, the enthusiasm and thoughtfulness of the students, and the power of their speeches.

The Race Unity Speech Awards were started in 2001 following the passing of Bahá’í and race relations advocate Hedi Moani.

Hedi was concerned both to foster constructive relations with the indigenous people of New Zealand and to help address racism against people of colour. Hedi was instrumental in the establishment of Race Relations Day in New Zealand, but sadly he was killed in 1998, just months before Race Relations Day was first observed in 1999. The Speech Awards were established in 2001 as a way of honouring Hedi’s memory and as a contribution to promoting harmonious race relations in New Zealand.

The Speech Awards give eloquent and thoughtful young people a chance to speak their minds and give the rest of New Zealand a chance to listen to the leaders of tomorrow. They are an initiative of the New Zealand Bahá'í Community, and the New Zealand Police are the principal partner.