Award winner aces Race Unity Speech Awards

A thought-provoking speech on race relations in New Zealand has won Thai An Vo top place over 180 students in the national finals of the annual Police-sponsored NZ Race Unity Speech Awards held in Auckland.

Students were tasked with explaining how they related to race relations in New Zealand by interpreting a traditional Mäori proverb and a quotation on unity.

The speeches addressed themes such as appreciating cultural differences, growing together as a country and whether the Treaty of Waitangi can help all New Zealanders have a sense of belonging and connectedness.

But it was Thai An’s speech that most impressed the chief judge, Superintendent Wallace Haumaha, General Manager of Mäori, Pacific and Ethnic Services, and a panel including Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy and Berlinda Chin, director of the Office of Ethnic Affairs.

"A racial friendly Aotearoa is made up of countless racial friendly relationships like mine, like yours, like ours, and there are no other shortcuts. He rau ringa e oti ai. With many hands, the work will be done,” said Thai An in his winning speech.

"Thai An's speech was truly thought-provoking and engaging," says Superintendent Haumaha. "His perspective on moving forward together as a multi-cultural nation was entirely pragmatic and practical.  His comment that 'the biggest changes can never come without the small ones' absolutely resonates." 

Initiated by the NZ Baha’i Community, the Race Unity Speech Award is sponsored by New Zealand Police, Hedi Moani Charitable Trust and Auckland Council, with support from the Human Rights Commission, Office of Ethnic Affairs and NZ Federation of Multi-cultural Councils. 

For more information on the competition, visit the Race Unity Speech Awards website.