For the first time in the Race Unity Speech Awards history, two young speakers have been named joint national champions.
Joe Howells of Kerikeri High School and Sheryl Chand of Solway College in Masterton are the joint champions of the awards, which have been held every year since 2001.
The New Zealand Bahá'í Community established the awards after the death of race relations advocate and Bahá'í Faith member Hedi Moani. NZ Police are the awards' principal sponsors.
Chief judge NZ Police Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha said in a statement that it was impossible to choose a single national champion this year.
"There comes a time like this when you can't separate two winners, and of course two very powerful speeches that both deserve recognition."
Chand's speech offered suggestions for dismantling racism, including abolishing academic streaming in schools.
"Research last year found that the practice of academic streaming in schools was discriminating and racist," she said.
"Streaming often increases racial segregation within schools and it damages students' acceptance of racial differences and general positive interactions between racial groups.
"We cannot just stop here. We must align our laws, policies and institutions with the underlying oneness and interdependence of all human life."
Chand called for institutional change using a powerful whakataukī: "tūngia te ururua, kia tupu wharitorito te tupu o te harakeke - burn off the undergrowth, so that the new flax shoots may grow."
Howells' speech called for all New Zealanders to work together to eradicate racism, like the fingers of one hand.
"When fingers are broken, too busy oppressing the other, how can we weave our united future? How can we live in harmony or expect to grab a hold of greatness? We can't.
"To be able to move forward in our society we need to respect all cultures, embrace diversity and learn from one another. All aspects of our hand working in unison with respect and aroha.
"Aotearoa is known for being a nation of pioneers... Why don't we become the first to eradicate racism?"
The two winners spoke alongside five other high school students in the national final at Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at the Manukau Institute of Technology's Ōtara campus this morning.
Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities and Minister for Youth Priyanca Radhakrishnan said she was there to listen and learn from the young speakers.
"I learn so much from the words of our rangatahi," she said.
"We need to take tangible steps to make our spaces more inclusive so that people of different backgrounds feel safe to share their perspectives and experiences.
"That's the beauty of these awards - they show us the true value of diversity."
Bahá'í community spokesperson Huti Watson said this year's theme - "Ngā matimati nō te ringa kotahi - The fingers of one hand" - highlights just how false and harmful racism is.
"What use is a hand without a thumb, or a bird with only one wing? This is how racial prejudice and injustice can cripple a whole society."
"If we truly understand the oneness of humanity, then it's clear that everyone has to play their role in dismantling racism.
"It's not a Māori problem, or an immigrant problem - this is everyone's problem to solve together."
In addition to the NZ Police, the awards are also sponsored by the Human Rights Commission, Foundation North, Manukau Institute of Technology, the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Speech New Zealand and the Hedi Moani Charitable Trust and Studio Marque.
RNZ
